PREFACE. 
It is with much pleasure the Author acknowledges his 
obligations to gentlemen in difiFerent and remote parts of the 
lited Kingdom, and even beyond them, for the assistance 
they have rendered him in the course of the work now 
introduced to the British public j and to several of these his 
ks are the more especially due as their communications, 
whether of examples or information, have been altogether 
unsolicited. From the remotest parts of the Shetland Islands, 
and from Scilly, with the north and middle portions of 
Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, contributions have been received; 
a large proportion of which at least can only be ascribed to a 
love of science, but of which the particulars are not now 
given, as it was thought more satisfactory to refer to each in 
those parts of our work where the particular subject has been 
under consideration. 
Of his readers then, for the present, the Author takes his 
eave in the words of the ancient Eomau dramatists — “Vos 
valete;” and if their approbation has been obtained— “et 
plauditeO^ 
