VI PREFACE. 



everywhere affords matter for interesting obser- 

 vations. Tlie animal and tlie vegetable worlds, 

 the earth and the heavens, appear by turns upon 

 the scene. 



Those who are interested by this compendious 

 series of sketches and of pictures, will find more 

 complete details in the lengthy notes placed at 

 the end of the volume.^ I know that it would 

 require the learning of a Humboldt and the pen 

 of a Michelet to execute in a perfect manner the 

 task I have essayed; but, nevertheless, I have 

 resolved to attempt it. I shall do my best to 

 attain success, and wish with all my heart that 

 others may do better. 



Whoever aspires to the title of a philosopher 

 has, in the present day, a double mission to per- 

 form- — to discover and to popularize ; he should 

 labour on the one hand for the advancement, on 

 the other for the diffusion, of science. The zoolo- 

 gists and botanists who shed the greatest lustre 

 on our modern epoch, have shown, by the pub- 

 lication of their contributions on natural history, 

 that they appreciate this sacred mission. I have 

 here only imitated them in a somewhat more ex- 

 tended manner, and hope I shall be pardoned for 

 following such an example. 



' In tliis translation, the notes referred to, so far as retained, are placed at 

 the bottom of the pages to which they belong. — Tb. 



