NOTICE TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



THIS manual is one of three which, taken together, form the 

 Elementary Course of Natural History prescribed and sanc- 

 tioned by the Council of Public Instruction of France. The 

 Botanical work was written by the grandson of the celebrated 

 Jussieu; the Mineralogical and Geological portion of the course 

 by M. F. S. Beudant, a gentleman distinguished for his know- 

 ledge of these sciences ; the Zoological Manual, now for 

 the first time translated, is the production of my most 

 esteemed friend, M. Milne Edwards, one of the first of living 

 zoologists. 



The work, in its original form, has already passed through 

 seven editions : a sure proof of its merit. It is admirably 

 adapted, by the simplicity of its style and practical character, 

 to form a safe text-book in all schools and colleges, and to 

 aid in that which I have never lost sight of, namely, the 

 introduction of my favourite pursuit, Zoology, into univer- 

 sities as a recognised branch of general education. 



Thinking it would be but an act of justice, though tardy, 

 to place before the English reader a work of an esteemed 

 friend, which, according to the fashion of the day, has formed 

 the stock in trade of so many English, Scotch, Irish, and 

 American literary contrabandists, I wrote M. Edwards on 

 the subject, and received from him the following letter, a 

 b 2 



