X$ PREFACE. 



One idea is indeed worthy to mix in the 

 pure contemplation of Nature, the anti- 

 cipation of the pleasure we may have to 

 bestow 'on kindred minds with our own, 

 in sharing with them our discoveries and 

 our acquisitions. This is truly an object 

 worthy of a good man, the pleasure of 

 eammunicating virtuous disinterested 

 pleasure to those who have the same tastes 

 with ourselves ; or of guiding young inge- 

 nuous minds to worthy pursuits, and facili- 

 tating their acquisition of what we have 

 already obtained. If honours and re- 

 spectful consideration reward such mo- 

 tives, they flow from a pure source. The 

 <river and the receiver are alike invulne- 

 rable, as well as inaccessible, to " envy 

 jealousy or rivalship ". and may pardon 

 their attacks without an effort. 



The natural history of animals, in many 

 respects even more interesting than botany 

 to man as an animated being, and more 



