O.-THt 



UNIVERSITY 



OF 



AN OUTLINE OF THE 



NATURAL HISTORY OF OUR 

 SHORES 



INTRODUCTORY 



HENRY LORD BROUGHAM, in. a discourse on the objects and 

 pleasures of science, says : 



" In order to fully understand the advantages and 

 pleasures which are derived from an acquaintance with 

 any science, it is necessary to be acquainted with that 

 science. 



" It may easily be demonstrated that there is an ad- 

 vantage in learning, both for the usefulness and the pleasure 

 of it. There is something positively agreeable to all men, 

 to all at least whose nature is not most grovelling and base, 

 in gaining knowledge for its own sake. 



" When you see anything for the first time you at once 

 derive some gratification from the sight being new ; your 

 attention is awakened, and you desire to know more about 

 it. If it be a piece of workmanship as an instrument, a 

 machine of any kind you wish to know how it is made, how 

 it works, and of what use it is. If it be an animal you 

 wish to know where it comes from, how it lives, what are 

 its dispositions, and generally its nature and habits. 



" You feel this desire, too, without at all considering 

 whether the machine or animal will ever be of the least 



