INTRODUCTION. Vll 



unoccupied space in the web of nature,— a fossil 

 bone may possibly reveal the existence of some pre- 

 viously unknown, monstrous, pre-Adamite form, — 

 a broken branch may disclose invaluable materials 

 for future Navies, — a mineral fragment may indicate 

 a yet untried gold region, — or a geological observa- 

 tion may point out a new locality for that indis- 

 pensable aid to industry, coal. Of late years, 

 Natural History, no longer a chaotic mass of wild 

 theories or vague assertions, but a truly inductive 

 science, has proved of vast service to commercial 

 pursuits, and now possesses a truly national in- 

 terest. Already the names of its cultivators oc- 

 cupy a proud position in the annals of fame, and 

 with another generation they may rank, at least, as 

 high as those of the warriors and heroes of past 

 ages. Let the Zoologist, the Botanist, or the Geolo- 

 gist consider that their discoveries and labours will 

 be remembered when deeds of blood are thought of 

 no more ; and, in the meantime, they may, with 

 pleasure and satisfaction, reflect that they have 

 made themselves known to the world, not by in- 

 flicting pain or misery on their fellows, but by 

 working peaceably yet earnestly for their welfare; 

 that those who venture into remote lands, or among 

 savage tribes, in attempting to e]ucidate the laws 

 of Nature, have as high a claim to distinction as 



