PREFACE. V 



but coexistent with, instinct), even if direct obser- 

 vation did not detect it. 



But, bearing in mind that records thus obtained of 

 the manners of animals are properly biographical, — 

 belonging to the individual more strictly than to the 

 species, — it is manifest that these must be the founda- 

 tion of all om* coiTCct generalization. Nor are they 

 in themselves unworthy of careful regard, as those 

 will allow who know the value of human Biography. 

 Shakspeare and Scott, who treat of man as an indi- 

 vidual, are not inferior in their walk of science to 

 Reid and Stewart, who describe him as a species. 



The inhabitants of the deep sea have hitherto been 

 almost inaccessible to such observation as this ; and 

 hence exceedingly little has been accumulated of their 

 Biography. A paragraph went the round of the papers 

 some months ago, to the effect that an eminent French 

 zoologist, in order to prosecute his studies on the 

 marine animals of the MediteiTanean, had provided 

 himself with a water-tight dress, suitable spectacles, 

 and a breathing-tube ; so that he might walk on the 

 bottom in a considerable depth of water, and mark 

 the habits of the various creatures pm^suing their 

 avocations. 



Whether a scheme so elaborate was really attempted 

 I know not ; but I should anticipate feeble results 

 from it. The Marine Aquarium, however, bids 

 fair to supply the required opportunities, and to make 

 us acquainted with the strange creatures of the sea, 



