PREFACE. 



THE following Observations are chiefly 

 extracted from a journal of incidents in na- 

 tural history, kept as occasion offered, du- 

 ring several successive years. Many in- 

 terruptions opposed their progress ; the 

 concurrence of circumstances indispensible 

 for connected detail were frequently want- 

 ing; experiments were rendered abortive 

 by casualties ; and hence the imperfections 

 which they now exhibit. 



Nothing is referred to but what has ac- 

 tually been witnessed, which is a better 

 means of promoting the progress of science 

 than resorting to the auxiliary authority of 

 other naturalists. Dates are given to aid 

 the illustrations, not to claim any priority 

 of observation, were such even worthy of 



