vi PREFACE. 



In so small a book little reference could be 

 made to any system of classification; and though 

 the alphabet of science is as important as the 

 alphabet of literature to any who would make 

 progress in it, yet the use of scientific terms 

 would here be out of place. Perchance the 

 reader may be led to investigate more fully the 

 subjects here presented; and this book will 

 have well accomplished its design, if it should 

 create a desire to study the works of our great 

 naturalists, of Dr. Harvey, or Dr. Johnston, 

 of Professor Forbes, or Rymer Jones, or other 

 writers here so often referred to; or if it 

 should send him into the wide fields of nature 

 to observe and discover for himself. 



But should time and place be wanting to 

 pursue the subject farther, yet will he have 

 gained something, if he have learned aught of 

 common things. " Partial knowledge," says 

 an Arabian proverb, " is better than total igno- 

 rance. He who cannot acquire all that he 

 would, should be careful to get all that he 

 can." 



