8 



POPULAR HISTORY OF LICHENS. 



tiful in Nature,- — to furnish important lessons in Natural 

 Theology, by indicating many of the infinite beauties of 

 Creation, and thereby to lead the mind of the observer by 

 imperceptible gradations to "look from Nature up to Na- 

 ture's God/' 



There are certain sections of the public upon whose atten- 

 tion in particular we would strongly urge the claims of Li- 

 chenology or kindred studies. But in so doing we would 

 have it distinctly understood that it is far from our object 

 or wish to make a special pleading in favour of Lichenology 

 to the exclusion of, or in preference to, other branches of 

 natural history, to which, though in different degree, our 

 remarks equally apply. Let each observer consult his own 

 tastes or opportunities in the selection of a subject. We 

 rejoice to find that a love of natural history is being rapidly 

 and widely created, diffused, and fostered throughout our 

 country ; its study is becoming an essential feature in the 

 curriculum of our most elementary schools ; its objects are 

 described and its phenomena expounded in all our mechanics* 

 institutes and cognate societies ; and by means of the Press 

 its general facts are placed at the command of the humblest 

 of our fellow-workers on the busy stage of life. These pro- 

 ceedings we accept as the exponents of the public tastes and 



