ii ADVERTISEMENT. 



all countries felt the necessity of more minute distinctions being esta- 

 blished amongst those extensive groups which they had previously formed, 

 and the result was a much nearer approximation than ever to an exact 

 definition of each of the species. We refer to the Preface, at page xxx 

 of the present volume, for a more copious account of the advantages 

 which the last edition of the " Animal Kingdom" presents, as compared 

 with the first. 



It remains for us, then, merely to state, that we felt the great importance 

 of at once adding to our scientific literature a work of such permanent value 

 as the " Animal Kingdom" of Cuvier. The character of the author for 

 a profound knowledge of his subject — the conviction which we entertained 

 of his exact accuracy in all that related to his labours, seemed to be 

 sufiicient to authorize us in trusting altogether to his authority ; and if we 

 have added a few notes occasionally in the present volume, our object only 

 was to enable our readers to make such an application of the text as our 

 local advantages in this country enabled us to do. ' 



In the following work, therefore, the reader will not find himself di- 

 verted from the regular current of the simple text by any protracted and 

 tedious notes, which dispute, as it were, the right to the space of every 

 page with the actual contents of the original. We have, in the front of 

 our announcement to the public, pledged ourselves to place the British 

 reader onalevelwith the French one, in comprehending the result of Cuvier's 

 researches into the most interesting of the subjects that can engage the 

 mind of man ; and to the fulfilment of that pledge we feel it to be our duty 

 to adhere. Fidelity, then, in the translation, was the first grand object of 

 our car£. We have laid it down as a fixed rule, never to depart, even in 

 a casual expression, from a most faithful representation of the thoughts 

 and words of the original ; and we trust that we have not failed altogether 

 in our attempt to transfer from his pages some portion at least of the 

 energetic spirit, yet true simplicity, by which Cuvier's style is so happily 

 distinguished. It has been, therefore, no object of our ambition, on this 

 occasion, to attempt the improvement of the charming colours of the 

 lily, or give fresh beauty to the glowing hues of the violet. Our task 

 was plain ; and we felt that we performed enough, in devoting the whole of 

 our exertions to efiect the nearest possible approximation to the style and 

 manner of the great Original — in other words, to secure to the English 

 nation all the advantages of such an easy and instructive exposition of 

 scientific knowledge as the French nation had already at their command. 



