PREFACE TO THE TRIED EDITION. 



The demand for a Third Edition lias been made sooner than I 

 could have ventured to anticipate, and has thus conveyed to me the 

 gratifying assurance that Natural History at least in one of its 

 branches is becoming more generally recognised as a branch of 

 Elementary Instruction in schools. Scarcely any change has been made 

 in the text; the difference between this edition and the preceding 

 consists principally in some of the notes, and in the improved appearance 

 of the typography and illustrations. 



Belfast, 3, College Square North. 

 July 1st, I860. 



