x PREFACE. 



civilized world, the Latin language has by common 

 consent been for centuries the medium through which 

 scientific men of every tongue have communicated to 

 one another their discoveries. Latin names have 

 accordingly been given to all the various products of 

 Nature, and he who does not wish to be debarred 

 from intercourse with brother naturalists must learn 

 the names employed by them. 



If I write to a German correspondent who under- 

 stands the English language, requesting him to oblige 

 me with specimens of the " Wry-necked Whorl Shell" 

 he will, in all probability, after spelling the unheard-of 

 appellation, make a wry face, tear up my letter, and 

 light his pipe with one of the pieces. Whereas, if I 

 write to another correspondent, who cannot even read 

 the English language, asking him for specimens of the 

 same shell, but calling it by its proper name, Vertigo 

 pusilla, he will, after my letter has been translated to 

 him by some friend, proceed forthwith to comply with 

 my request. When I warned the working men, above 

 alluded to, that they must expect to encounter many 

 words difficult to pronounce and by no means easy to 

 remember, one of them remarked that several of his 

 acquaintances, who collected insects and plants, in- 

 variably called the objects of their study by their 

 Latin names, and that he saw no reason why he could 

 not learn to do the same. 



With respect to the illustrations required for this 

 volume, very little difficulty was felt in selecting the 

 method by which they have been produced. Having 

 from my boyhood been a lover of the " black art," I 



