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HON. JOHN LOWELL, L L. D. 



PRESIDENT OF THE MASSACHUSETTS SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING 

 AGRICULTURE, &C. &C. 



Sir, 



Permit me to lay before you this humble attempt, 

 to render familiar to all, a science, to which I have 

 been so long devoted, and for which your attachment 

 has been conspicuous. If I have failed in my endea- 

 vours, to answer this important end, I hope it may be 

 attributed rather to inability, than to any want of zeal 

 to promote the cause of this interesting branch of 

 Natural History. That my imperfect labors may in 

 some degree prove useful, is the sincere wish of 

 Your humble servant, 



THE AUTHOR. 



