PREFACE. 



The intimacy that I then formed with M.Dufresne, 

 one of the hest naturalists in Europe, and, situated as 

 he was at the head of the laboratory of preservation, 

 afforded me ample opportunity of inspecting and be- 

 coming acquainted with all the different processes 

 employed in the preservation of animals. This I was 

 the more anxious to acquire, that I might be of use to 

 our own Museum, which had, by this magnificent 

 purchase, been increased by an addition of sixteen 

 hundred Birds, twelve thousand Insects, two thousand 

 six hundred species of Shells, amounting to upwards 

 of five thousand individuals. There were besides up- 

 wards of two thousand Fossils, and a beautiful col- 

 lection of upwards of eight hundred eggs, accurately 

 named, with numerous other things, such as Quadru- 

 peds, Corals, Echini, &c. 



In the following treatise, it has been my object to 

 attend more to rendering the meaning clear, than to 

 elegance of language ; and, besides, to get the work 

 up in a style at once creditable and moderate in price, 

 so that it might be generally useful. At the same 

 time, I have preferred avowing myself the author, 

 to publishing the work anonymously, being firmly 

 of opinion, that no man should publish on a subject 

 which he is ashamed to acknowledge. 



Naturalists and travellers are frequently greatly 

 at a loss, on going abroad, to know what instruments 

 are necessary to be carried along with them, so that 

 they may be effectually prepared for every kind of 

 research ; and, as they are also at a loss to know 

 who are the best makers of these, I have pointed out 

 Mr. Alexander Adie of Edinburgh, a gentleman long 

 distinguished for the excellence of his instruments, 



