v.l 



AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



THERE are two reasons which have induced the Author to 

 publish the following pages. The first is, that as the pleasing 

 study of Natural History ought to be extensively introduced 

 into institutions of learning, yet the generality of books 

 already in circulation on this subject, present to the mind of 

 the student either too great an amount of detail, or else include 

 in a single volume, necessarily meagre, the whole Animal 

 Kingdom. The second is, that a growing desire for further 

 acquaintance with this study is felt among a large and increas- 

 ing class of intelligent readers, who have not the facilities for 

 using books of reference which savants have. In a country 

 like this where a man is brought into contact with mere 

 nature, teeming with unsuspected wealth, of what incalculable 

 advantage is it to have, if it be but the rudiments of a science 

 which will tell him the properties, and therefore the value 

 of its animals and natural productions. He whose mind is 

 relaxed and wearied, after the hours of business, will not sit 

 dreaming over impossible scenes of pleasure, or go for amuse- 

 ment to haunts of coarse excitement, if his interest is once 

 awakened in some study fitted to keep the mind in health. 

 To gratify this desire to some extent, and <$ assist students 

 in this department, is the object of the present work. 

 Much of the matter is original, the result of a long and 

 somewhat extensive familiarity with the science. Much also 



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