11 
PREFACE. 
colonists in their laudable enterprise. The proposition of the Right Hon., 
the then, Secretary for the Colonies was favourably entertained, and ere 
long I was informed that a portion of the expense of the projected publi- 
cation would be defrayed by Government, in order that it might be sold 
at a price which would place it within the reach of the generality of 
naturalists. On the receipt of this information, I proceeded to make 
arrangements with a publisher ; and, on the approval by Government of the 
terms proposed, the materials for the first part were placed in the hands 
of Messrs, Smith, Elder & Co. At this time I expected to be able to com- 
plete a part of the work every second month ; but scarcely was the second 
part commenced, when serious disease rendered me unequal to almost any 
exertion, and no sooner was I differently circumstanced, than I was appointed 
to fill a highly responsible and onerous position, which required so much time, 
that little leisure could be devoted to the publication I had undertaken. I 
think it necessary to state these facts, in order that the Subscribers to the 
work may understand why it has been extended over so long a period. 
All the illustrations, with a few exceptions, have been executed by 
Mr. Ford, who, it has already been stated, made the drawings; and I feel 
confident that purchasers will not regret his having been selected. A 
cursory survey of the plates will, I think, convince any one that they are 
the production of a master’s hand — a hand that depicts nature so closely as 
to render the representation nearly, if not equally, as valuable as the actual 
specimen. 
In describing colours, I have almost invariably had reference to the little 
but useful work of Mr. Syine, of Edinburgh,* and always employed his 
* “Werner’s Nomenclature of Colours.” Second Edition, 1821. 
