PREFACE. 



An insulated tract of land, such as the Isle of 

 Man, always presents a favourable field for the 

 observations of the naturalist, especially when, as in 

 this case, it furnishes a sort of commentary on the 

 natural history of the surrounding kingdoms. This 

 circumstance, connected with the desire of investigat- 

 ing the productions of my native country, has induced 

 me for some time back to collect materials for the 

 natural history of that island, both its Fauna and 

 its Flora. These I propose publishing in the form 

 of catalogues, and commence with the Mollusca, 

 that class being first completed. 



