2 ADVERTISEMENT. 



will be his especial aim to make the history of the objects 

 described, not only interesting and intelligible to the gene- 

 ral reader, but of practical utility to the student and scien- 

 tific naturalist, by means of plates, carefully colored, and 

 descriptions embracing the most interesting facts and anec- 

 dotes respecting the habits of the objects represented. 



In the carrying out, and completion of this design, the 

 Publisher proposes " to illustrate the leading zoological 

 groups of the various branches ; particularly such as are 

 remarkable for their usefulness to man, or curious from 

 the singularity of their structure or external beauty." The 

 illustrations proposed to be given are so numerous, that it 

 will be impossible to procure all of them from living speci- 

 mens ; but the greatest care will be used in selecting, from 

 the most appoved sources, the plates, which can be confi- 

 dently relied on for accuracy, both of delineation and 

 coloring. 



Having thus given a brief outline of the plan to be pur- 

 sued, the Publisher of the ILLUSTRATED NATURAL HISTORY, 

 with some degree of confidence, appeals to an enlightened 

 community for its support; and in doing so, pledges 

 himself to study, and take advantage of every improve- 

 ment, which experience or circumstance may enable him 

 to profit by, during the future progress of the work, 



