PREFACE. 



THERE are few individuals who have not, in the course 

 of their lives, met with objects of Natural History, 

 which they considered worth preserving, but, from the 

 want of knowledge how to proceed, have been unable 

 to do so. Indeed many fine specimens have been lost 

 from this cause alone. To remedy this, in some de- 

 gree, is the intention of the following little book, which 

 will be found to contain almost all that is already 

 known on the methods of Collecting and Preserving 

 Objects of Natural History, including several things 

 which are not generally known. 



In the year 1819, the Senatus Academicus of the 

 Edinburgh University, did me the honour to request 

 me to proceed to France, to inspect the splendid 

 Museum of Mons. Dufresne, chief of the preserving 

 department, at the Jardin des Plantes, Paris, which 

 was then for sale ; and, if I approved of it, to purchase 

 the collection for the College. I found the collection 

 to consist of many rare and valuable specimens, and, 

 as a whole, in a high state of preservation, as might be 

 expected, from the ability of its distinguished possessor; 

 and that it was worth more, in my estimation, than the 

 sum asked : I accordingly made the purchase. 



R8562S 



