PREFACE. 



and accuracy the wondrous series of transformations which 

 they undergo. Finally, may I ask the scientific reader to 

 pardon the use of popular instead of technical terms in the 

 text. Throughout the work I have striven to write in language 

 such as would be understood by the pupils in the upper 

 classes of elementary schools, as I was told by several mem- 

 bers of the teaching profession that such a book was greatly 

 needed for use in giving " object lessons." I have, therefore, 

 made arrangements for the issue of an abridged edition, 

 containing all those portions of the text which would be 

 likely to prove useful for teaching purposes. I cannot 

 conclude without expressing my heartfelt gratitude to 

 the many kind friends who have helped in the preparation 

 of this work. The number of those who have contributed 

 notes is so great that I cannot mention them all by name ; 

 but my thanks are especially due to Miss Beckwith, who 

 generously placed at my disposal the whole of the correspond- 

 ence, and books of cuttings, of the late Mr. Beckwith a 

 perfect mine of information from which I have drawn freely. 

 I would also express my hearty thanks to Rev. J. B. Meredith, 

 Dr. Rope, Dr. Sankey, Mr. J. Steele Elliot, Mr. H. F. Harries, 

 Mr. F. Rawdon Smith, Mr. Brownlow Tower, and others who 

 have revised many of the sheets of the book ; to Mr. John 

 Franklin, Mr. R. J. Irwin, Mrs. Rocke, Hon. Frank Hill, and 

 others who have helped in the preparation of the photographic 

 plates ; to Mr. Watkin Watkins for his excellent resume of the 

 Wild Birds Protection Acts ; and to Mr. W. E. Edwards who 

 contributed largely to the chapter on Fishes. I lay down 

 the pen with a feeling of relief that my task is done, yet 

 with the pleasant sense that it has brought me into contact, 

 or correspondence, with many naturalists with whom I had 

 not previously been acquainted. In this connection, however, 



