PREFACE. 



IT is pleasing to observe, in these days of popular 

 science, that the delightful study of Natural His- 

 tory, as a branch of general education, is keeping 

 pace with the rapid progress of other departments 

 of knowledge. Although the lovely science of Bo- 

 tany has not yet assumed an entirely popular form, 

 suitable for all classes, still, much has recently been 

 done to render it attractive, to extend its influences, 

 and to encourage the taste for its study; and the 

 author of these pages feels a gratification in contri- 

 buting his mite to this department of literature. 



The object of the present work is to place before 

 the general reader a popular, yet full and accurate, 

 detail of the history of the most magnificent of all 

 plants, the Royal Water-Lily of South America; to- 

 gether with an account of those less gorgeous, but 

 not less interesting, species that adorn the Lakes 

 and Rivers of our own land. 



