PREFACE. V11 



thc~^ who make the knowledge of Natural His- 

 tory the principal object of their pursuit, the Lin- 

 noean system would certainly have been adopted 

 and strictly adhered to: but it is calculated for 

 students of a different description ; for those who, 

 without having leisure to devote themselves wholly 

 to the study of this science, would not wish to be 

 totally ignorant of the world in which they live. 

 To instruct the youthful mind, in regard to the 

 most important subjects of inquiry in the system 

 of Nature, so far as regards the quadruped race, 

 is the avowed design of this undertaking; and in- 

 deed, a volume of so small a size cannot be sup- 

 posed to be intended for the use of the professed 

 naturalist. Without, therefore, pretending to criti- 

 cise the works of other writers on this subject, or 

 to depreciate their merit, which in many is con- 

 spicuous, it will not be amiss to say something of 

 the manner in which it is here treated. 



In the first place, a general view is given of the 

 quadruped part of creation, as being next in rank to 

 man, the masterpiece of the terrestrial world. After 

 this general survey, in proceeding to individual de- 

 scription, the most striking and interesting objects 

 of the animal kingdom are delineated; the creatures 

 which are peculiarly curious in their conformation 

 or habits, and especially those which are most 

 formidable or most beneficial to man, are particu- 

 larly selected and described. Those of general 

 utility or the greatest commercial importance, and 

 those which frequently occur in conversation or 

 reading, in the relations of travellers, and in the 



