ADVERTISEMENT. XI 



extent of our limits, to address, both to the eye and 

 to the mind, all that is really known of these crea- 

 tures, rejecting whatever is erroneous and douhtftd, 

 insisting only on the sober, though not less wonder- 

 ftd realities of truth, and stimulating and directing 

 all who may have opportunities to renewed investi- 

 gations. 



Such are the chief objects of the present Yolume ; 

 but it is proper to remind our subscribers that a 

 portion of the great order Whales still remains un- 

 described, and which we found could not have been 

 at present introduced without doing injustice to their 

 history. It is therefore proposed ere long to devote 

 to this other part a second volume, which mil com- 

 mence with the Herbivorous Cetacea^ and in which 

 we shall also endeavour to trace the reahty and 

 history of a race of huge animals, known under the 

 popular titles of Mermaids, Sea Serpents, Krakensy 

 &c. ; and which, while we cannot doubt their exist- 

 ence as singular creatures of some kind, we are 

 totally at a loss what form or nature to attribute to 

 them; in conclusion, we shall add the history of 

 the marine carnivora, or the Walrotcs, Seals, Otories, 

 &c. ; animals both singular, instinctive, and im- 

 portant in the commerce of nations. 



Our next publication will be Vol. I. of the 

 " Birds of Western Africa" by Wilham Swainson, 

 Esq. This subject will be completed in two vo- 

 lumes : the First, devoted to the Birds of Vrey and 

 a portion of the Perching Birds; the Second, con- 

 cluding the Perching Birds, and containing the 



