INTRODUCTION. ? 



whose very existence and development are a mystery — a mystery, however, which, as for as it lias 

 yet been unraveled, serves to raise our expectations as to what remains behind. As the telescope 

 has revealed myriads of stars beyond the reach of unassisted sight, on account of their distance, 

 so has the microscope unfolded countless generations of beings, as much beyond the reach of 

 vision, on account of their littleness. When we are told that, in addition to what has been 

 previously stated, eight hundred millions of living things may exist in a cubic inch of water, we 

 begin to have some faint conception of the scope of our subject, to which is given the name of 

 Zoology, or the Science of Animal Life. 



THE EQUILIBRIUM MAINTAINED AMONG ANIMAL TRIBES. 



Notwithstanding the variety in size, form, structure, and habits, amidst this profusion of animal 

 life, a due balance of power and number is maintained by the influence of species upon species. 

 They arc destined to act and react upon each other by laws of destruction and renovation, through 

 which the proportions of animal existence are preserved in just equilibrium. Multitudes are doomed 

 to become the prey of others — whole races are created as though for slaughter ; but, great as is 

 the loss, the increase is equivalent, in order to the preservation of the species. As regards indi- 

 viduals, the instinctive means of attack on the one hand, and of self-preservation on the other, are 

 such as to equalize their respective chances. Speed, caution, watchfulness, inaccessible retreats, 

 the nature of their clothing, and even its color, alike protect the timid and defenceless ; while the 

 bolder oppose force to force. Those that are most obnoxious to destruction, are the most prolific. 

 Insects, for example, are the common prey of birds and beasts, reptiles and fishes, and often of 

 each other ; yet who has ever known their numbers perceptibly diminished ? How great is the 

 daily havoc among fishes ! They are the prey of each other : the cachalot, the grampus, the por- 

 poise, the otter, and the seal, devour them in multitudes : thousands of oceanic birds find in them 

 their natural aliment, whilst man draws them by shoals from the deep; such, however, is their 

 astonishing fecundity, that all these losses are duly repaired. The number of eggs in the roe of 

 the codfish has been calculated to be 3,687,760 ; of the flounder, 1,357,400 ; of the herring, 

 36,960; of the mackerel, 546,680; of the smelt, 38,280; of the sole, 100,360; of the tench, 

 383,250. Of an increase by numbers like these, no examples exist among the higher classes of 

 vertebrata, viz., birds and mammalia: still, the law of the balance of increase and decrease is not 

 the less established 'among them ; hence we justly conclude, that each part of the creation depends 

 upon another; and though, at a single glance, all may seem confusion, it will be found, upon 

 mature reflection, that order and due equipoise of parts are the results of a scheme equally well 

 adapted and wisely ordained. 



ADVANTAGES OF THE STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 

 The advantages attending the study of such a subject as this are obvious. So many animals are 

 directly or indirectly subservient to the necessities, pleasures, or luxuries of man, from so many 

 does he experience direct or indirect injuries, that a knowledge of them is almost indispensable to 

 his existence. Our table, our dress, our household furniture, and a variety of conveniences winch 

 we enjoy, will remind us, if we reflect for a moment, of a multitude of animals, which, in one v> ay 

 or other, are essential to our comfort ; and we may, with equal ease, form a catalogue of such as, 

 on the contrary, are injurious to our welfare. But, leaving out of the question the necessity thus 

 imposed upon us of gaining a general knowledge of natural objects, we may observe, that the 

 study of natural history is peculiarly fitted for strengthening and enlarging the mind. It disci- 

 plines the memory ; it demands the exercise of patient investigation ; it enforces an attention to 

 minutiae; it leads us to detect differences, where none but the practiced eye would perceive them, 

 and to trace out analogies, or affinities, which reflection alone can discover. Its aim is truth ; and 

 so far, it must be a noble and elevating pursuit. If to correct the imagination, and strengthen the 

 powers of reason, be among the advantages attending the study of the exact sciences, not les 

 beneficial are the results attending the study of Nature. Yet, independently of this consideration, 

 Nature holds out other motives to excite our interest ; she asserts her intrinsic value, and, while 

 claiming our admiration of her work, speaks of unerring Wisdom and almighty Power. 



