PREFACE. 



history, that it requires us to become familiar with hard 

 words. Every branch of human knowledge every me- 

 chanic art, has its respective technicalities. Systematic 

 names are only difficult to those who are unacquainted 

 with their meaning. When branches, or parts of know- 

 ledge, or ideas, become familiar and common, the words 

 representing them cease to be difficult : then the complaint 

 about "hard words" ceases. Few persons acquainted with 

 the instruments, complain that the words Thermometer, or 

 Barometer, are "hard ;" the first is familiar to all, even to 

 those ignorant of its construction and numerous practical 

 uses. The names Quadrant and Sextant are not " hard 

 words" to the most unlettered seaman, and we may remark, 

 in passing, that the science of navigation would not be 

 rendered of more easy acquisition, if those instruments 

 were designated by the more familiar names of Bob and 

 Bill. The votary of music does not find the numerous 

 terms, such as clef, minim, semibreve, crotchet or sonata, 

 overture, aria, or pianissimo, crescendo, forte, &c., obstacles 

 in acquiring a knowledge of the science. It has been ob- 

 served by an eminent botanist of our country, Dr. Darling- 

 ton, that ladies find no very great labour in acquiring a 

 perfect knowledge of the technical language of fashion, 

 of mantua-making and millinery. Mousseline de laine, 

 gros de Naples, gimp, gingham, gros des Indes, millenet, 

 inserting, tetting, &c., are examples of words which are 

 hard to those who do not comprehend their meaning, but 

 easy enough to those who understand their application. 

 Morus multicaulis is a systematic name, which was for a 

 time well understood by almost everybody in the United 

 States. 



And the same is true of the systematic names used in 

 Natural History. Where there is a disposition to learn 

 them, they are readily acquired at the cost of a little 

 labour. 



