XX 



INTRODUCTION. 



add a few hints upon the art of making durchschnitts properly. These, therefore, 

 are appended to the Rules for Preserving and Laying out Sea-weeds, so that 

 beginners may be at no loss how to proceed in either of these matters. 



In conclusion, it is quite possible that the students who read this book may^ 

 from time to time, and here and there, find imperfections in the accounts, or think 

 of some happier way or words in whicli the meaning might have been expressed — 

 I could probably do so myself were the printing to recommence. But of one thing 

 they may rest assured, — the work has been in the strictest sense a labour of love. 

 It is scarcely too much to say, that in all the 384 descriptions there is not a line 

 of mere heartless copying or scissors-work. In all cases, m}" endeavour has been to 

 understand the scientific statements myself before attempting to make them com- 

 prehensible to others. The labour of love, therefore, has also been conscientiously 

 performed; and if those who have improvements to suggest will insert them in their 

 own copies, and make them known to their friends, further assistance will be gained 

 towards the clearing and really popularising one of the most charming studies which, 

 in the goodness of Grod, this wonderful earth aff'ords to its inhabitants. Only let 

 natural history be pursued with the "reverence" on which our great poet insists, so 

 that we may not become conceited with our beautiful but imperfect " broken lights," 

 and we shall find in it a fountain of perpetual enjoyment, and a resource against 

 thousands of the lesser and often foolish disturbances of life, which otherwise are so 

 apt to lay too keen a hold upon the mind, especially of those who lead quiet un- 

 eventful lives. What saitli the Book of Wisdom? "By the greatness and beauty 

 of the creatures, proportionably the Maker of them is seen;" and to dwell on Him 

 in the glory of His works here, is beginning to do in a lesser degree now what 

 we hope to do in the full perfection of knowledge hereafter. 



