Vlll PREFACE. 



The errors which have darkened the 

 beautiful science of Natural History, are 

 principally to be traced to superficial ob- 

 servation : and if this be true with regard 

 to the larger animals, how is it to be ex- 

 pected that the smaller have received that 

 scrupulous care and attention, by which 

 alone their habits can be illustrated ? Scarce 

 deemed worthy to hold a place in exist- 

 ence, they have been obscured by more 

 conspicuous objects, those whose properties 

 it required less time and labour to unfold. 

 But the real Physiologist, who knows the 

 universal balance preserving the scale of 

 animation, and who feels the imbecility of 

 his own understanding, in scrutinizing the 

 operations of Nature, will not presump- 

 tuously depreciate what are called her 

 meanest works. Each has its appointed 

 place, and its appointed purpose. Patient 

 enquiry is the only unerring guide ; and 

 even this may be defeated, unless a com- 

 bination of incidents shall favour the ob- 

 server. 



Perhaps it is less from the number of 

 animals, than the accurate examination of 

 those brought under review, that benefit 



