FIRST-BOOKS 



OF 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



PREPARED FOR THE USE OF 



SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES, 



BY W. S. W. RUSCHENBERGER, M. D., 



Surgeon in the U. S. JSTavy; Felloio of the Collen-e of Physicians; Hon. Member of the 



Philadelphia Medical Society; Member of the Jlcademy of J^atural Sciences of 



Philadelphia, <S-c., &c. 



FROM THE TEXT OF MILNE EDWARDS AND ACHILLE COMTE, 



Professors of J^atural History in the Colleges of Henri IV. and Charlemagne. 

 WITH PLATES. 



The Books already issued have received the highest commendations from the moat 

 eminent men of science and learning throughout the country : — amongst whom are 



Drs. Morton, Dung-Iison, Carson, Goddard, Pancoast, Sevvall, Horner, "Valentine 

 Mott, Bedford, Granville Sharp Pattison, Wm. Rush, J. W. Webster, AlbanGoldsmitb, 

 Thomas Harris, N. W. Cole, B. F. Bache, I. Parrish, VVm. Harris, W. E. A. Aiken, 

 J. K. Mitchell, Harvey Lindsly, R. Bridges, Frederick Hall, James O. Pond, Samuel C, 

 Smoot, Thomas Miller, Chandler R. Gilman, J. Augustine Smith, John A. W. Dunbar, 

 Nathaniel Potter, John C. S. Monkur, Samuel K. Jennings, Frank H. Hamilton, George 

 B, Wood, .Joseph Bullock, A. B. Cox, D. Egbert, J. Worster, B. S. Herndon, Wm. Elmer, 

 W. A. Clendennen, A. McWilliams, R. D. Miissey, John Styles, Thomas D. Miitter, 

 Thomas Stewardsun, J. F. Brooke, W. H. Pile. 



Hon. Levi Woodbury, Hon. Daniel Sturgeon, Hon. Samuel L. Southard, Hon. James 

 Buchanan, Hon. G- C. Verplanck, Hon. judge Hopkinson. 



Right Rev. Bishop Charles P. McUvaine, D. D. 



Also, from Messrs. J. R. Chandler, R. Sterling, Hiram Ketchum, Wm. Biddle, S. S. 

 Griscom, John Frost, J. J. Smith, jr., Charles Atherton, S. S. Haldeman, Isaac Lea, 

 &c, &;c, and from nearly all the leading reviewers throughout the country. 



The original of the above named vpork was submitted to the " Royal Council of Public 

 Instruction" in France; and after having it under deliberation, that learned body 

 decided upon its adoption for the use of Schools throughout France. Their decision 

 was communicated to the author by M. Guizot in a letter, of which the following ia a 

 translation : 



''MINISTRY OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION. 



University of France. 



Paris, lith JVovemier, 1838. 

 Gentlemen : 

 The Royal Council, in its sittings of the 5th instant, have held your work entitled 

 First-Books of J^Tatural History, under deliberation, which I have approved, and infor- 

 mation of which I have the honour of communicating to you; it is expressed in the 

 following terms: 



The Council, &,c., having examined the report which has been presented to it on a 

 work of M.M. Milne Edwards, and Achille Comte, entitled First-Books of J^atural 

 History, decide that this work be adopted for teaching Natural History in the Colleges." 

 You are at liberty, gentlemen, to give this deci&ion the publicity you may think 

 proper. For my part, I shall communicate it to the Rectors, that they may recommend 

 the use of the First-Bonks of J^atural History, to the patrons and principals of the 

 colleges dependent on their academies. 

 Accept gentlemen, the assurance of my distinguished considerationj 



The Minister of Public Instruction, 



GUIZOT 

 M.M. MILNE EDWARDS & ACHILLE COMTE.'" 



