PREFACE. 



matched against the Dead Languages. We 

 wish to put it in the place of no other study, 

 certainly not in the place of the Ancient Lan- 

 guages or Mathematics, without both of which 

 its profitable study is almost hopeless. We 

 simply wish to claim for it a higher rank than 

 has thus far been assigned to it, by showing its 

 varied relations to man. 



The study of a single term, or a brief course 

 of lectures, has generally been considered suf- 

 ficient for the great book of Nature, while 

 two or three years are required on ancient 

 languages before commencing the collegiate 

 course. So that while almost every graduate 

 considers himself competent to teach Latin, 

 Greek, or Mathematics, probably not one in 

 ten would offer himself as qualified to instruct 

 in Natural History. 



The Lectures are printed as prepared for 



