Vlli PREFACE. 



sacred or classical writings, are considered as the 

 most interesting subjects of investigation. 



The arrangement exhibited in the table of con- 

 tents, appears best adapted to general ideas, and 

 easiest to comprehend and remember ; and as the 

 book is designed for the use of both sexes, the 

 greatest care has be^en taken to avoid a fault with 

 which performances of this kind too often abound. 

 Indecorous expressions, and every thing that has a 

 tendency to vitiate juvenile ideas, have been care- 

 fully avoided; and the whole is interspersed with 

 religious and moral reflections. The whole design 

 of the work is, to convey to the juvenile mind, by 

 an agreeable mode of communication, as much 

 important information on the subject of animal 

 history, as can be comprised in a volume of so 

 small a size; arid this will, perhaps, be found to be 

 as much, as the generality of young persons will 

 have leisure to attain. 



