PREFACE 



oXKo 



This work aims to be a concise and popular Natural 

 History, at once accurate in statement, handy in form, 

 and ready of reference. 



The several departments of Zoological science are 

 treated by specialists, all of whom are distinguished as 

 authorities and as original investigators ; and the text 

 is illustrated by upwards of five hundred original draw- 

 ings made and reproduced expressly for the work. 



A concise systematic index precedes the work, 

 and a full alphabetical index which contains about ten 

 thousand references is given at the end. Great pains 

 have been taken to render these both accurate and 

 complete. 



