PREFACE 



TO THE SECOND EDITION. 



The Author cannot permit a Second Edition of 

 his First Volume (together with the completion of his 

 Work in a Second Volume) to issue from the Press, 

 without congratulating his readers and the scientific 

 world at large, upon the great degree of attention and 

 minute accuracy of investigation which have been ex- 

 tended to the present branch of Natural History since 

 his labours commenced. No trouble has been spared on 

 his part, not only in elucidating the subjects of his se- 

 cond volume to the best of his ability, but in solving 

 such doubts, and reconciling such discrepancies, as were 

 unavoidably left in the former portion of his work ; and 

 he trusts that, having rejected the former arrangement 

 of JM. Temminck, and adopted now, through both 

 volumes, that lately proposed by Mr Vigors (and 

 since followed by many eminent naturalists), will have 

 materially contributed to that end. This resolution 



