TO THE MEMBERS 



OF THE 



LINNEAN AND GEOLOGICAL SOCIETIES, 

 THIS WORK, 



INTENDED TO ILLUSTRATE 

 THE HISTORY OF A CLASS OF ANIMALS 

 ESSENTIALLY CONNECTED WITH THE SCIENCES 



WHICH IT IS THE OBJECT OF BOTH THESE INSTITUTIONS 

 TO PROMOTE, 



IS MOST RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED 



BY 



THE AUTHOR. 



