PREFACE. 



A NEW book and a new ship may, in many 

 respects, be said to resemble each other. Purpose, 

 design, material, and labour, are requisite for their 

 construction. Each bears its cargo and its bill-of- 

 lading. Author and publisher, owner and under- 

 writer, alike desire prosperity to the l outward 

 bound.' 



My previous literary efforts have received such 

 kindly recognition by the public that I venture 

 to launch the present volume, in the hope that it 

 may experience a welcome similar to that accorded 

 to its predecessors. Before it leaves my hands 

 I think it is incumbent on me to offer some few 

 words by way of preface, in explanation of its 

 object and construction. 



Although the main portion of the work has 

 reference to objects of natural history, it has 



