three hundred species, but few of which are of any material 

 inconvenience to man. Of AMFiiiBiii our species are few, 

 and only one venomous reptile is found in the British 

 Islands. Our species of Fishes are numerous, many kinds 

 of which are in immense abundance, and offer a healthful 

 supply of food, frequently in boundless profusion ; in 

 fact so prodigious is the quantity consumed, for food, 

 for the purpose of extracting oil, and for manure, as to 

 baffle all attempts at calculation as to number. 



Insects are not so numerous as in more southern 

 countries, though we have a considerable variety, and 

 some of extreme beauty and interest. Of the class Vermes, 

 the CoNcnoLOGY of Great Bi-itain, though it oifers numerous 

 species, is but very poor in point of beauty, compared with 

 many other countries ; of those kinds that are used for 

 the purpose of food, as Oysters, Muscles, Scallops, &c. 

 Ave have abundance, on most of our shores; of the other 

 divisions in this class we have a great variety, but as they 

 are not subjects of general interest, we shall merely enume- 

 rate them in their generic order, pointing out any pe- 

 culiarities in their form, structure and habits. 



The Botanical subjects indigenous to Great Britain are 

 numerous, and her forests have long contributed to sustain 

 her naval superiority; her products of Grain, Pulse, Fruits 

 and Vegetables, applied to the purpose of food by her in- 

 habitants, and of Grass and Herbage for Cattle, are not sur- 

 passed in Countries situated under a more genial temperature. 

 Here the Botanist has it always in his power to examine 

 some or other species of plant, as every period of the 



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