PREFACE. in 



in this branch of science, are the most capable of advising their Lordships 

 thereupon ; and that the payments on account of the said sum of one thou- 

 sand pounds are to be made to you from time to time, on a certificate that 

 such progress has been made in the engravings, in accordance with the plan 

 previously approved of, as to justify the issue then applied for. My Lords 

 have therefore directed me to communicate to you the views they entertain 

 upon this subject ; and to apprize you that they will be prepared to act in 

 conformity with their arrangement, upon learning from you that you are 

 ready to proceed with the Work upon the principles above laid down, and 

 upon receiving from you a statement of the manner in which you think the 

 Work should be published, and the plates engraved, so as most effectually to 

 accomplish the object my Lords have in view, in sanctioning the payment from 

 the Public Funds, in aid of the expenses of the Work in question. 



"I remain, 

 " Sir, Your Obedient Servant, 



"A. Y. Spearman." 



The object of the present Work is to give descriptions and 

 figures of undescribed and imperfectly known animals, both 

 fossil and recent, together with some account, in the one case, 

 of their geological position, and in the other of their habits and 

 ranges. As I do not possess the knowledge requisite for such an 

 undertaking, and as I am, moreover, particularly engaged in 

 preparing an account of the geological observations, made during 

 the voyage, several gentlemen have most kindly undertaken 

 different portions of the Work. Besides the very great advantage 

 insured in thus enlisting the attainments of these Naturalists in 

 the several departments of science, to which they have paid most 



