PREFACE. XI 



To descend to prose — the first edition appeared in 

 1835. In 1837 a second edition was announced, from 

 v/liicli circumstance it may fairly be concluded that the 

 first was out of print ; but notwithstanding this an- 

 nouncement, tlie second edition was delayed from 

 month to month, until it was abandoned and almost 

 forgotten : at length it was determined to reprint the 

 work in its present illustrated and altered form. 



The illustrations are almost entirely original : one is 

 coi)ied from Curtis, one or two from Shuckard and Spry, 

 one or two fi'om Westwood : two of the draAvings, those 

 at pages 27 and 96, ai*e by the author's brother; the 

 others by himself, and with the exceptions above speci- 

 fied, invariably from Nature : all the illustrations have 

 been drawn and engi'aved expressly for this edition. 

 The alterations are in every instance introduced with the 

 view of making the work more easy to the beginner. 

 The author would gladly have added to the number of 

 pages, in fact, he had determined on doing so, he had 

 prepared several most scientific and erudite passages, but 



" The hest laid sclicmes o' mice an' men 

 Gang ait a-gley." 



On talking the matter over >vitli his publisher — and 

 what author ever presumed to decide for himself? — 



