INTRODUCTION. 



A DICTIONARY of ANIMATED NATORE, upon a comprehensive plan, had long 

 pied my thoughts, before I first publicly announced my intention of making this 

 addition to my series of popular " TREASURIES." Now although I cannot charge 

 myself with being idle during that period, or with omitting to avail myself of the 

 writings of the most distinguished authors that had recently contributed to the stock 

 of Zoological Science, it is certain that at the outset of this undertaking I under- 

 rated the difficulties I might have to contend with In treating the subject at the same 

 time popularly and, as it always ought to be treated, systematically; neither did I 

 accurately calculate the time and labour absolutely necessary to carry out my ori- 

 ginal design ; the publication of this volume has consequently been protracted. It 

 has also been further delayed owing to a very serious illness with which I have 

 recently been afflicted, but from which, with humble thanksgivings to the Almighty 

 Dispenser of Life and Health, I am now rapidly recovering Having thus at length, 

 however, been permitted to bring the Work to a close, I trust there may be reason 

 to hope that my readers will find it not altogether unworthy of their kind patronage, 

 or in any way derogating from the high character which its precursors have so 

 generally borne. 



It will be seen at the first glance, that the whole of the articles are printed in 

 alphabetical order ; so that, the name of any animal being previously known, it* 

 zoological character and its habits can be instantly ascertained ; while those persons 

 who wish to study this branch of Natural History according to the most approved 

 modern system will only have to refer to this " INTRODUCTION," and they will find 

 not only an outline of Cuvier's celebrated arrangement, as developed in the last 

 edition of his ' Rcgne Animal ' with those alterations and additions required by the 

 present advanced state of the science, but, under each Class and Order, references 

 to the different genera, &c- described in the body of the Work. Thus, this CLASSIFIED 

 INDEX will be the means of supplying the necessary systematic information. But 

 whether the articles be so consulted, or merely read in a more desultory way, I 

 believe that a vast fund of instruction and amusement will be found here collected. 

 And so, in truth, there ought. Many of the most celebrated standard zoological 

 works have been put under contribution, and accurate information has been gleaned 

 from all. Nor is it among the least of the advantages which, I presume, this 

 volume will be found to possess over most others on this subject, that, besides 

 numerous entirely new articles, and condensed abridgments of the more elaborate 

 writings of many acknowledged authorities, I have had an opportunity of making 



* The four volumes already published have humble an opinion of my own literary power* an 



met with a decree of favour far beyond their will ever en.ure n,e fronibein* much injured ty 



menu from the public in general, and have the Intoxicating effect* of over-dose* ofpraise. 

 been severally honoured by such encoraiumi 



from the critical bench as might possibly make " Averse alike to flatter or offend, 



Notfom faulu ' nor yet to Taln to 



golden opinions," I trust that I have so 



M35Q189 



