Vill PREFACE. 
Then the illustrations—each one so accurate, so artistic, so 
admirably executed; and the coloured plates—so bright and 
natural; all conduce to make the work of M. Moquin Tandon 
difficult to equal, much less to surpass. 
In translating “Le Monde de la Mer,” 1 fear 1 have “are- 
quently failed to render its lucid and elegant language with the 
full force it merits; but I trust the blame I deserve in this 
respect may be somewhat palliated by the fact that I have not 
hesitated to add much new matter. Since the publishing of the 
work, naturalists have not been idle, and some of the later results 
of observation, together with certain points perhaps more inte- 
resting to us than to our neighbours across the Channel, have 
been incorporated in this translation. 
Another book on the same subject was published a few 
months ago, “The Ocean World,” a translation of a work of 
M. Figuier, who has not scrupled to copy verbatim frequently 
three or four consecutive pages at a time from “Le Monde de 
la Mer.” I mention this to secure for M. Moquin Tandon a 
proper portion of the credit M. Figuier may perchance acquire. 
H. MARTYN HART. 
Blackheath, Sept., 1869. 
