vi PREFACE. 



of all bodies, whether living or inorganic, found on 

 the whole face of the earth, or united together to 

 constitute its mass ; a knowledge of the phenomena 

 observable in these bodies, the characteristics by 

 which they may be distinguished from each other, 

 and the parts they perform in the great total of the 

 creation. Its domain is immense, and its importance 

 does not yield to its extent. Some men, possessing 

 little acquaintance with science, perceive in it a 

 mere collection of anecdotes, more fitted to gratify 

 idle curiosity than to exercise the mind; or they 

 regard it as a dry study of technical names and 

 arbitrary classifications ; but such an opinion has its 

 source in ignorance, for no one possessing the most 

 elementary notions of natural history can fail to 

 recognise its great utility. The spectacle of nature, 

 grand and harmonious as it is, showing how vastly 

 superior in beauty the reality of the creation is to 

 the most magnificent of human inventions, elevates 

 and disposes the mind to high and salutary thoughts. 

 A knowledge of ourselves, and of the objects which 

 surround us, is not merely to satisfy our craving for 

 information a craving which is developed in pro- 

 portion to the increase of intelligence : it is a neces- 

 sary foundation for many other studies, and is emi- 

 nently calculated to impart that rectitude of judg- 

 ment without which the most brilliant qualities lose 

 their value, and, in the course of life, rather lead 



