PREFACE. 



THE design of the following pages is to endeavour 

 to supply what seems to be a blank in the scientific 

 literature of this country, for, although numerous 

 treatises exist upon every branch, yet no work has 

 hitherto appeared, comprising either succinctly or 

 in detail, a comprehensive outline of Natural His- 

 tory. It may appear presumptuous on the part of 

 the Authors to attempt to grapple with such an 

 extensive range of subjects, which, they feel 

 must be, in many instances, inadequately treated, 

 still they trust that their effort to condense, within 

 the limits of a portable volume, the leading features 

 of Animate and Inanimate Nature, may prove of 

 service to those at least for whom it is more espe- 

 cially intended. Their chief aim has been to ren- 

 der their work at once sufficiently popular for the 

 general reader, without, at the same time, lessening 

 its scientific value. For this purpose technicalities 

 have been avoided whenever their employment 

 could be dispensed with, English names have been 

 given to all the Classes, Orders, and Families, and 

 the principal divisions have been prefaced by brief 



