NATURAL HISTORY. 
Hungary the natron lakes are very numer- 
ous, and afford a vast quantity annually. 
In some places it effervesces on the sur- 
face of the soil, heath, &c. It is even 
found efflorescing on meadows, where it is 
renewed every spring. About sixty miles 
north-east of Grand Cairo, in Egypt, there 
is a lime-stone valley in which there are 
several extensive natron lakes, which be- 
come dry during the summer season, and 
leave their sides and bottoms covered with 
a great quantity of soda or natron. 
NATURAL history. Natural history, 
taken in its most extensive sense, signifies 
a knowledge and description of the whole 
universe. Facts respecting the heavenly 
bodies, the atmosphere, the earth, and in- 
deed all the phenomena which occur in tlie 
world, and even those which relate to the 
external parts, as well as the actions of 
man himself, so far as reason can discover 
them, belong to the province of natural his- 
tory. But when we leave the simple recital 
of effects, and endeavour to investigate the 
causes of such phenomena, we over step 
the boundaries of natural history, and enter 
on the confines of philosophy. This science, 
it must be evident, according to the above 
definition, is as extensive as nature itself ; 
but in a more appropriate and limited 
sense, it treats of those substances of which 
the earth is composed, and of those orga- 
nized bodies, whetlier vegetable or animal, 
which adorn its surface, soar into the air, 
or dwell in the bosom of the waters. 
In this restricted sense natural history 
may be divided into two heads ; the first 
teaches us the characteristics, or distinc- 
tive marks of each individual object, whe- 
ther animal, vegetable, or mineral ; the 
second renders us acquainted with all its 
peculiarities, in respect to its habits, its 
qualities, and its uses. To facilitate the 
attainment of the first, it is necessary to 
adopt some system of classification, in 
which the individuals that correspond in 
particular points may be arranged together, 
and with this view we have preferred that 
of Linnmus, as being the most simple and 
perfect of any that has yet been presented 
to the public. 
A knowledge of the second head can 
only be acquired by a diligent and accurate 
investigation of each particular object ; for 
this we must refer the reader to the several 
genera described in the course of the work, 
under which we have endeavoured to give a 
brief account of the interesting and more 
material facts connected with each genus. 
The study of natural history consists in 
the collection, arrangement, and exhibition 
of the various productions of tire earth. 
These are divided into three great king- 
doms of nature, the boundaries of which 
meet in the Zoophytes, which see. 
Minerals occupy the interior parts of the 
earth, in rude and shapeless masses. They 
are concrete bodies, destitute of life and 
sensation. See Mineralogy, and the 
several genera of minerals. 
Vegetables clothe its surface with ver- 
dure, imbibe nourishment through their 
bibulous roots, respire by means of leaves, 
and continue their kind by the dispersion 
of seed within prescribed limits. They are 
organized bodies, possessing life, but not 
sensation. See Botany. 
Animals inhabit the exterior parts of the 
earth, respire, and generate eggs ; are im- 
pelled to action by hunger, affections, and 
pain, and by preying on other animals and 
vegetables, restrain within proper limits 
and proportions the numbers of both. They 
possess organized bodies, enjoy life and 
sensation, and have the power of loco-mo- 
tion. 
Man, who rules and subjugates all other 
beings, is by his wisdom alone capable of 
forming just conclusions from such natural 
bodies as present themselves to his senses. 
Hence an acquaintance with these bodies, 
and the capability from certain marks im- 
printed on them by the hand of nature, to 
distinguish them from each other, and to 
affix to each its proper name, constitute 
the first step of knowledge. These are the 
elements of this science ; this is the great 
alphabet of nature, for if the name be lost, 
the knowledge of the object must be lost 
also. 
The method pursued in natural history 
indicates that every body may, on inspec- 
tion, be known by its peculiar name, and 
this points out whatever the industry of 
man has been able to discover respecting 
it, so that amid apparent confusion, the 
greatest order and regularity are discerni- 
ble. 
The Linnsean system is divided into classes, 
orders, genera, species, and varieties, to 
each of which their names and characters 
are affixed. In this arrangement the classes 
and orders are arbitrary, the genera and 
species are natural. 
Of the three grand divisions of the impe- 
riiim natur®, above referred to, the animal 
kingdom stands highest in the scale, next 
