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PREFACE. 



It lias beeu the custom iu Prefaces to the ' Zoologist ' for tlie 

 Editor briefly to summarise the principal work iii Natural 

 History recorded iu the pages of the volume ; but the author of 

 those pleasant words, after long and faithful service, has at 

 length beeu called away to his eternal rest. There can be no 

 more appropriate Preface to this, the Thu'ty-fourth volume, and 

 the last with which he was connected, than some record of a 

 long life heartily devoted to the cause of Nature. 



Edwaed Newman was born at Hampstead on the 18th of May, 

 1801. His ancestors became members of the Society of Friends 

 at the rise of that sect iu 164G, and several of them suffered 

 imprisonment on account of their faith, yet they have always 

 remained stedfast to their tenets. His parents, George and 

 Ann Newman, had four childi-en, all sous, of whom Edward 

 was the eldest. Both father and mother had a taste for Natural 

 History, and early inculcated it iu theii" children. One of his 

 brothers writes: — "Edward's love for Natural History was 

 born with him, and this natural taste was fostered by both 

 parents. Our father encouraged us by daily conversation to 

 observe all natural objects : he knew the notes of all the birds of 

 the district, and imparted the knowledge to his childi'en. I well 

 remember him telling us at the breakfast-table that that moru- 

 iug he had heard the chift'chaft' for the first time that year, or 

 seen the whitethroat ; and we used to record such events in our 

 little note-books. White's 'Natural History of Selborne' was 

 the beloved book of the family ; that and ' Bewick's Bu'ds ' were 

 referred to almost daily. Our mother taught us the names of 

 all the wild-plants as they came into blossom, and encouraged 

 us to collect and study them." To these books may be added 

 ' Biugley's Quadi'upeds,' which was also a great favourite. He 

 himself writes: — "I had a very, very early predilection for 

 butterflies; I may say even from my nurse's arms." And 



