PRELIMINARY NOTICES. 



The following observations on the Technicalities of Science, 

 by the author of Ornithologia, appeared in the Magazine 

 of Natural History, for July 1828; as subservient to the 

 author's views, a place is given to them here. 



It is time that we should get rid of that puerility which would 

 persuade us that a fact described in terms and language familiar 

 only to the learned, becomes of less importance when displayed 

 in the energetical simplicity of our mother tongue. It is time 

 that such puerility should be placed upon the shelf, or hurried 

 to the tomb of all the Capulets. If, however, for the sake of 

 foreigners, such a course should at any time be deemed expedient? 

 it is hoped that an English translation will accompany the Latin 

 description, so that it may escape the complaints frequently 

 made, and with much truth, against many of the works on natural 

 history which have been published in this country and elsewhere; 

 and which appear to be designed rather to display the learning 

 of the writers, than to state the facts which such learning ought 

 to convey. Such, nevertheless, it is admitted, is the effect of habit, 

 or the pride of science, or both combined, that it is often difficult 

 for those accustomed to scientific language and terms, to con- 

 descend to the use of such as shall make what they write at once 

 agreeable to, and understood by the general reader. Through 

 inattention to these circumstances, the study of natural history 

 has not obtained that attention, in this country, to which it is 

 entitled and deserves: and I may venture to predict that, 

 while the pride of science shall refuse to condescend to familiar 

 explanation, the number of students in natural history will not 

 very materially increase. However, it is to be hoped, that the 

 prospects of natural history are extending, and that the esta- 

 blishment of the Zoological Society, in particular, will excite 

 the public attention ; that the study of nature will be more sim- 

 plified, and be made more attractive and more amusing. The 

 publication of the Magazine of Natural History will, it is also 

 hoped, be instrumental in this work, by reducing the science 

 to the level of ordinary capacities, and by smoothing the road to 

 more recondite views. 



