

PREFACE. 



THE following pages were published in a series of articles in the 

 Field newspaper, with the object of making the study of Natural 

 History more intelligible to the general public than a more rigid 

 adherence to scientific systematic writing would have done. While 

 endeavouring, however, to popularise the subject, I have taken 

 especial care not to degrade it by sacrificing truth to what may be 

 called sensational science. My object has been rather to prepare the 

 mind for deeper delving in the rich mines than to make it content 

 with any glittering specimen it may meet with on the surface. The 

 subject is therefore necessarily incomplete, even as to a thorough 

 examination of the three great divisions of Nature with which I have 

 dealt. But I have endeavoured to bring out all their salient points, 

 and have, I trust, succeeded in making them clear and intelligible. 

 While expressing my opinion with perfect freedom and independence, 

 I have avoided controversy as much as possible. There are many 

 means open to the student in which he may study with advantage 

 the two great lines of thought by which the primary or secondary 

 character of species are advocated. 



The great book of Nature will always be interpreted differently so 

 long as the human mind differs in its powers of thought and 

 reflection. 



But the student will best prepare himself to decide rightly on 

 this subject by a careful study of facts. I believe this will lead 



