PREFACE. vii 



been consulted and freely used in the preparation of these 

 'volumes. 



The writer takes great pleasure in believing that, in sup- 

 plying an elementary work on natural history, his humble 

 labours may be beneficial to the country. As a useful 

 bra'nch of education, natural history seems not to be suffi- 

 ciently appreciated, or extensively regarded. 



By the term Natural History, we mean that science 

 which embraces a knowledge of the structure of all bodies, 

 whether living or inorganic, found on the whole face of the 

 earth, or united together to constitute its mass ; a know- 

 ledge of the phenomena observable in these bodies, the 

 characteristics by which they may be distinguished from 

 each other, and the parts they perform in the great total 

 of the creation. Its domain is immense, and its impor- 

 tance does not yield to its extent. Some men, possessing 

 little acquaintance with science, perceive in it a mere col- 

 lection of anecdotes, more fitted to gratify idle curiosity 

 than to exercise the mind ; or they regard it as a dry study 

 of technical names and arbitrary classifications ; but such 

 an opinion has its source in ignorance, for no one possess- 

 ing the most elementary notions of natural history can fail 

 to recognise its great utility. The spectacle of nature, 

 grand and harmonious as it is, showing how vastly superior 

 in beauty the reality of the creation is to the most magni- 

 ficent of human inventions, elevates and disposes the mind 

 to high and salutary thoughts. A knowledge of ourselves, 

 and of the objects which surround us, is not merely to 

 satisfy our craving for information a craving which is 

 developed in proportion to the increase of intelligence : it 

 is a necessary foundation for many other studies, and is 

 eminently calculated to impart that rectitude of judgment 

 without which the most brilliant qualities lose their value, 

 and, in the course of life, rather lead from than conduct 



us to useful conclusions. The importance of the natural 



A* 



