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PREFACE. 



Try 



Xhe termination of the first volume of the Zoological 



Illustrations is accomplished, and its contents will not 

 only enable our readers to discern the nature of the work, 

 but likewise to form a judgement, on that degree of im- 

 provement which we have introduced since its first publi- 

 cation, and they may safely rely on the continuation being 

 in no respect inferior. 



In commencing a work of this nature, we have had 

 two principal objects in view : the diffusion of original 

 observations, which, while thev might further the ends of 

 science, would also be interesting to the general reader ; 

 and that of discouradns the publication of distorted 

 figures copied from old authors, by accustoming the [)ub- 

 ]ic eye to original designs and correct representations of 

 natural objects. How far we may have succeeded in this 

 latter object, remains to be judged by others; we are how- 

 ever satisfied with having made the attempt, and we hope 

 that abler pencils than our own, may engage in the prose- 

 cution of this most desirable object ; for it is only by the 

 publication of original matter, that a check can be given 

 to the increasing nun^ber of compilations and multiplied 

 copies of "ill-shaped" figures, by which error is perpetu- 

 ated, and science retarded. 



The only original work that has appeared in this coun- 

 try similar to our own, is the Zoological Miscellany by Dr. 

 Leach, which, as it was discontinued after the third volume, 

 it may be presumed was unsuccessful : although little can 

 be said of many of the figures in the early volumes, 

 those in the latter are much to be praised, and the whole 

 are original ; the descriptions also abound with details 

 hidilv interestino; to the scientific world, for which indeed 

 the learned author principally intended it ; nevertheless 



