TUB KIEI.D VOLE 



PREFACE 



rnHERE appears to be no limit to the demand for popular works on 

 Natural History in these days, especially if they be accompanied by well- 

 executed Illustrations. There can be little doubt, therefore, that The Royal 

 Natural History will meet with a favourable reception, and, so far as I am 

 acquainted with it, I have great confidence in commending it to mj' bi-other 

 naturalists. 



The text has been planned in such a way as to render it available not onlj^ 

 for general information about the objects described in it, but also as a guide 

 to their classification : and on such lines it will indeed be of priceless value to the 

 travelling naturalist an<l to the resident in foreign countries. Applications for 



