PREFACE. xiii 



had repeatedly been made to rescue important results from private 

 obscurity, and render them available to naturalists in general, the follow- 

 ing note, which accompanied the presentation of the first volume of that 

 work, may here be inserted : 



" MY DEAR PROFESSOR, 



" Have the goodness to accept a copy of my humble commentary on 

 the Works of Providence. 



" Though endowed with my own share of perseverance and resolution, 

 I confess that the iniquitous obstructions I suffered in its progress had 

 nearly compelled me to abandon the prospect of completion. 



" But your kind indulgence always encouraged me to advance, there- 

 fore I may say the existence of my work is mainly owing to you. 

 " Believe me ever yours, with infinite regard, 



" JOHN GRAHAM DALYELL.' 



" 14 GREAT KING STREET, 21st August 1847." 



In these circumstances, I willingly furnished the little aid in my 

 power towards the completion of the volume, interfering, however, in 

 the smallest possible degree, with the style, the nomenclature, and the 

 phraseology of the descriptions, so as not to destroy the identity of the 

 materials employed. The publication, being a posthumous work, will, of 

 course, be regarded with all the tenderness and generosity usually dis- 

 played on such occasions ; while the numerous highly interesting and 

 original observations which it contains, will be read with delight and 

 gratitude by all philosophical naturalists. 



As several Plates, in a finished state, have been found in the author's 

 repositories, together with descriptions of their contents, which are 

 considered by his relative worthy of publication, it is intended to form 

 these into a Supplement, to contain at the same time an Analytical 

 Index of the two volumes, with a Biographical Sketch and Portrait of 

 the Author. 



JOHN FLEMING. 



NEW COLLEGE, EDINBURGH, 

 1 5th July 1853. 



