INTRODUCTION. 5 



coverable, which not only governs the uniformity that exists in 

 the structure and actions of all the creatures belonging to them, 

 but produces those numerous deviations from it, which are at 

 first sight so perplexing. 



To discover this plan, therefore, is the highest object of the 

 scientific Naturalist ; and all his endeavours should be directed 

 towards it. There is no fact or class of facts relating to the 

 structure, actions, or habits of living beings, which can be 

 useless to him. That which seems, when regarded alone, to be of 

 trivial importance, is often found, when united with others, or 

 placed in a different light, to possess an unexpected value. Every 

 one, therefore, who carefully observes any occurrences that may 

 fall beneath his notice, and scrupulously records, not his infer- 

 ences from them, but the facts themselves, may be regarded as 

 contributing towards the advancement of the science. And 

 when we consider how little is known, compared with that 

 which remains to be discovered, it is obvious that there are few 

 who cannot do something. The man of active and observant 

 mind, whatever be his regular object of pursuit, may find many 

 opportunities of rendering important services to Science, by 

 simply watching that which passes before him, and committing to 

 writing what he notices. A fund of interesting and valuable 

 anecdotes regarding our native animals, may thus be collected 

 by an attentive observer, who is nevertheless ignorant of their 

 scientific names, their internal structure, or their place in a clas- 

 sification : and these may be of the greatest service in completing 

 the histories which have been already ascertained, in regard to 

 their structure and physiological actions ; and in explaining the 

 uses of parts, which were previously unknown. 



But the inability to go abroad and observe Nature in the field, 

 need be no obstacle to those, who are inclined to pursue a course 

 of investigation into her phenomena; for such persons may 

 advantageously employ themselves in inquiring into the minute 

 structure, and vital actions, of even our commonest Plants, and 



