6C& 



PREFACE. 



As I know by experience, that the pursuit of 

 Natural History in the field is productive both 

 of happiness and health, I offer the following 

 pages to the attention of young Naturalists. I 

 can assure them, that they will find in Natural 

 History a most fascinating recreation. "Beatus 

 ille, qui procul negotiis." 



When we reflect how completely the order of 

 things has been reversed in civilized life, by having 

 turned day into night, and vice versa, we cannot 

 wonder that sickness shews itself in such distressing 

 forms. And this will always be the case, so long 

 as the sound of the midnight fiddle has more 

 attractions in it, than the sk}^lark's matin-song. 

 This last brings health, — the first destroys it. 



If I succeed in convincing both "my young 

 and old readers, that such is really the case, we 

 shall hear no longer of their passing the finest part 



