Vlll PREFACE. 



tant advantage in the cultivation of the Natural History 

 of our own country which requires no limitation — an 

 advantage which appeals with greater force in the present 

 era . of the general diffusion of knowledge than at any 

 former period : and that is, the means which are thus 

 offered to multitudes of persons who are restricted by 

 circumstances from engaging in the study of the higher 

 departments of the science, of obtaining a rational and 

 never-ceasing enjoyment ; and, to the young especially, of 

 opening an exhaustless source of amusement, at once 

 healthful to the body and favourable to the development 

 of the best qualities of the heart and understanding. 



It was with these views that the series of works on 

 British Zoology, of which this volume forms a part, was 

 first undertaken, and it was confidently hoped that the 

 united labours of several British Naturalists — each 

 illustrating the departments to which his attention had 

 been most particularly directed — would produce a 

 Fauna of this country far more complete than could 

 have emanated from the unaided talent and exertions of 

 an individual ; and the reception which these works 

 have met with seems to show that these hopes were not 

 altogether groundless. 



Since the year 1839, when the first edition of this 

 work was published, so much has been added to our 

 knowledge of our native animals, that it has been found 

 necessary to revise the entire volume, and completely to 

 re-write a' considerable portion of it. 



It has been thought best to omit entirely the chapters 

 on the domestic animals which were given in the first 

 edition ; first, because these species cannot be properly 

 regarded as members of our Fauna, and secondly because 

 it is impossible to give any satisfactory account of their 

 history and varieties within such narrow limits. 



