xyi INTRODUCTORY ADDRESS. 



Mr James Wilson, Mr Neill, Mr Hay, Mr Combe, Mr 

 Hamilton, the Withams, the Li^arses, the Symes, and 

 the Nicholsons. The Royal Society, the Wernerian Natural 

 History Society, the Society of Scottish Antiquaries, the So- 

 ciety of Useful Arts, and the Scottish Academy of Painting, 

 Sculpture, and Architectiu'e, spontaneously and gratuitously 

 enrolled me among their members. 



In this capital commenced the publication of my Illus- 

 trations, and there it might have been accomplished, had 

 not unexpected difficulties come in the way. My engraver, 

 Mr W. H. LiZARS, advised me to seek an artist in London. 

 There, after many fruitless inquiries, I became acquainted with 

 Mr Robert Havell junior, who has ever since continued to 

 be employed by me, and who, I am happy in saying, has given 

 general satisfaction to my patrons. 



Foiur years have passed. One volume of my Illustrations, 

 containing one hundred plates, is before the public. You may 

 easily see, good-natured reader, that to Britain I owe nearly all 

 my success. She has furnished the artists through whom my 

 labom-s were to be presented to the world ; she has granted me 

 the highest patronage and honours ; — in a word, she has thus 

 far supported the prosecution of my Illustrations. To Britain, 

 therefore, I shall ever be grateful. 



Two objections have been made to the mode in which my 

 work is published : the great size of the paper upon which the 

 representations are offered to you, and the length of time ne- 

 cessary for their completion. 



As to the size of the paper, which has been complained of 

 by some, it could not be avoided without giving up the desire 

 of presenting to the world those my favourite objects in nature. 



