PREFACE. 



THE present is intended as the first volume 



of a series of Memoirs of British Animals, in 







which, for the accommodation of such per- 

 sons as are inclined to pursue the study of any 

 one branch of our Zoology, in preference to 

 the others, each class will be rendered per- 

 fectly distinct from the rest. The prominent 

 features of this work are meant to consist in 

 an accurate delineation of the habits of life, 

 instincts, and sagacity, of the animals of Great 

 Britain and Ireland, from the highest to the 

 lowest classes. The technical and descriptive 

 parts will be separated from the body of the 

 work, and inserted at the end of each class, in 

 the form of a synopsis. By such separation, 

 the author cannot but hope that he shall have 

 rendered an acceptable service, not only to the 

 general reader, but also to the scientific natu- 

 ralist. He has ever entertained the highest 



sentiments 



