PREFACE. 



An English translation of Dr. Boas's " Lekrbucli der Zoologie," 

 which has already appeared in two Danish and two Grerman 

 editions, has been arranged in the hope that it may prove 

 useful to yet a larger public. 



The tralQslation is designed, in the first place, to assist 

 beginners in the study of Zoology ; but the needs of students of 

 Medicine, of Veterinary Surgery, and of Forestry have also 

 been kept in view. It will be noticed that Di-. Boas gives 

 prominence to facts rather than to theories, and of these, 

 such as should be of use to one or other of the classes of 

 readers just enumerated, or as should be most convenient for 

 verification. 



In the Grerman edition lists of the more important forms 

 belonging to the Grerman fauna are appended to the descriptions 

 of the several groups : these have been replaced here by species 

 met with in the British Isles, and it is hoped that they will be 

 of special service to Naturalists. For this amount of the 

 subject-matter, and for this alone, are the Translators re- 

 sponsible : in all other respects they have merely endeavoured 

 to give a faithful rendering of the Grerman text. Certain 

 differences appear between the English and the Grerman, as the 

 book has undergone a thorough revision at the Author's hands, 

 and certain portions have been deleted, whilst new matter has 

 been introduced. 



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