X PREFACE. 



In the following pages the subjects have been 

 viewed in those masses into which we find them 

 grouped in nature ; and the plant or the animal 

 has been taken in conjunction with the scenery, 

 and the general, and particular use ; and, when 

 that arose naturally, the lesson of morality or 

 natural religion. The subjects for a first volume 

 have been chosen more for their breadth than for 

 their number, leaving those that are more minute, 

 and stand in greater need of pictorial illustration, 

 to future volumes, in the course of which the 

 same kind of scenes will be visited, though in 

 other aspects and for other purposes. 



Throughout the work, the best authorities, at 

 least those which appeared to the author to be 

 the best, have been consulted, as well for the 

 collection of facts, as for the verification of ori- 

 ginal observations; but no man's labours have 

 been appropriated without express acknowledge- 

 ment in the text, and generally speaking, with 

 inverted commas in the analytic table. 



The plan, of which the present volume forms 

 a part, has been long under consideration; and 

 materials are in preparation for extending it, not 

 only to a Series of Volumes of THE BRITISH 

 NATURALIST, but to follow, or alternate those, with 

 THE FOREIGN NATURALIST, as may be most ac- 

 cordant with the successful preparation of the 

 work and the wishes of the public. 



Several facts and inferences will be found in 



