PREFACE. 



NATURAL HISTORY embraces every object in nature, or- 

 ganic and inorganic. The animal kingdom contains about 

 tw& hundred and fifty thousand species, and the vegetable 

 kingdom about eighty-five thousand species, making an ag- 

 gregate of three hundred and thirty-five thousand organized 

 objects, for the study of the naturalist. Besides these, 

 rocks and minerals of every kind are to be added, which 

 would probably swell the number to nearly four hundred 

 thousand. 



The purpose of the science of Natural History is to 

 arrange, divide and subdivide all these objects, so that they 

 may be collectively and individually studied, with a view 

 to the benefit of mankind. 



The design of this work is not to describe the characters 

 and habits of every animal, nor the properties of every 

 plant, mineral and rock on the surface of the earth ; but 

 to furnish to students in schools and colleges, and to read- 

 ers generally, a text-book from which they may acquire 

 the principles of the science of Natural History, which 

 of course includes the principles of classification, and learn 

 how to recognize the differences and resemblances, and the 

 various properties of organized beings, as well as of inor- 

 ganic matter. 



The work is divided into eight books, each one of which 

 embraces a distinct department or branch of the science ; 

 they are as follows : 



