viv- 1— • 



II^TPtODUCTIOX. 



It is not the oLject of this work to explore the entire fiehl of Natural History, 

 which properly iuckules, 1. Anthropology — the history of Mau ; 2. Zooloijij — the 

 description of Animals ; 3. Botany — the science of Plants; and, 4. O'culoyy — 

 tlie history of the Earth, embracing, also, a description of minerals, or mlneraloyy. 

 Only the living, animated world will be represented on these pages. 



Aware that most scientific works arc dry and nuiuteresting to the mass of tlie 

 people, beiug intended chietiy for scholars, and the more educated classes, we luue 

 endeavored to treat the subject in a manner that will both entertain and instruct at 

 the same time. While maiutaining scientific exactness iu the classiticatiou and 

 description of objects, we have carefully avoided wearisome details, and introduced 

 such a variety of pleasing and instructive matter as will, it is believed, arrest the 

 attention of all grades of readers, and create in them a desire to know more of the 

 nature and character of those races of animals over which the Creator has given 

 man the right and power to rule. 



In the preparation of this work we have desired to produce a book for the people, 

 and, by its suggestive style, to lead the reader to see the relationship that exists 

 between the wonderful creations of Nature and the awful Beauties of that Unseen 

 Realm, of which all that is glorious aud beautiful iu the material world is but a 

 feeble reflection. 



" Natui'e," says Schlegcl, " is a species of holy irrit iu a bodily form, — a glo- 

 rious panegyric, as it were, on God's omnipotence, expressed in the most vivid 

 symbols. The outer part of this sacred volume attests the supreme power, wisdom, 

 aud goodness of the Creator, iu characters too clear aud luminous to be uuperceivcd 

 or misread by the dullest or the most vitiate<l eye. The inner pages comprise a 

 still more glorious revelation, but their language is more mysterious." 



As the reader travels with us tlirough the various kingdoms of the living world, 

 he will find new cause to admire that infinite wisdom which has so wonderfully 

 arranged the whole system of animated nature, and to adore that unfailing benevo- 

 lence which has so liberally provided for the comfort and enjoyment of all races. 



lie will also perceive that naturalists, as a general thing, have not done full 

 justice to the intelligence and reasoning powers of the lower orders. Nothing is 

 more common than to hear the faculty of reason spoken of as the crowning pre- 

 rogative of man, the divine attribute that distinguishes him from tlie brute, while 

 whatever of intelligence the brute may manifest is called instinct ; as if it were 

 feared that if we allowed the common possession of the faculty of reason to both 

 man and brute, cither the brute would claim equal rank with man, and share his 



