INTRODUCTION. 19 



The very comparison between the two is a subject full of 

 the highest interest, a subject more than sufficing in itself 

 to provide instruction and entertainment for a lifetime. 

 And yet, how many of us are ignorant of the very strik- 

 ing, leading fact that the indigenous races of both hemi- 

 spheres, whether vegetable or animal, while they are 

 generally more or less nearly related to each other, are 

 rarely indeed identical. The number of individual plants, 

 or birds, or insects, which are precisely similar in both 

 hemispheres, is surprisingly small. 



It will probably be unnecessary to observe that the 

 TrnUsr ui these remarks must be understood as laying no 

 claim to the honorable position of a teacher, on either of the 

 many branches connected with Natural History; a mere 

 learner herself, she can offer the reader no other guidance 

 than that of companionship, in looking after the birds, or 

 plants, or insects, mentioned by Mr. Knapp. It has indeed 

 been a subject of regret with her, that the task of editing 

 the "Journal of a Naturalist" should not have falleu into 

 hands better able to render the author full justice in this 

 respect. But it is the object of the present edition to pre- 

 pare this English volume for the American public gener- 

 ally, and for that purpose simple explanations were alone 

 necessary. Anxious, at least, to do all in her power, the 

 editor has consulted the best printed authorities within her 



