THE EDITOR'S PREFACE. 



THE distinctive character of this popular work consists in 

 the condensed view which it gives of Mineralogy, Fossil 

 Botany, and Palaeontology, considered in their relation 

 to the Natural History of the Earth. Keeping the 

 Author's original object in view, the Editor has endeavoured 

 to render the text still more concise by excluding all irrele- 

 vant matter; and has thus gained space for considerable 

 additions, especially to the chapters on the Tertiary, Cre- 

 taceous, Wealden, Oolitic, Liasic, Devonian and Silurian 

 groups. 



The article, Palaeontology, has been entirely re-written, 

 and the best authors on the subject carefully consulted. In 

 this the Editor has been especially indebted to the admirable 

 Traite Elementaire de Paleontologie of Professor Pictet, 

 Cuvier's Ossements Fossiles, Vogt's Lehrbuch der Geologic 

 und Petrefactenkunde, Groldfiiss's Petrefacta Germanics, 

 D'Orbigny's Cours Elementaire de Paleontologie, and the 

 works of our distinguished countrymen, Professors Owen 

 and Grant, Sir C. Lyell, Sir E. Murchison, Sir H. De la 

 Beche, Dr. Mantell, and Professor Sedgwick. 



A considerable number of woodcuts have been added, 

 especially to the Palaeontology and special geology ; as good 

 figures are of great importance in imparting clear ideas on 

 these branches of Natural Science. 



May, ISol. 



