ON THE STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY. 
706 
marked ol the rhinocerous, and of all the larger animals; but in most 
of the smaller ones, whose lives are short, or whose increase is not so 
injurious to man as the increase of the others would he, we always 
find the number of their offspring much greater. No species has 
ever been found to increase so as to annihilate the others; and this 
singular harmony, and just proportion, has now been supported for 
several thousand years. “ One generation passeth away, and another 
succeedeth,” hut all so equally as to ballance the stock in all ages, 
and in all countries. Innumerable other interesting facts, will pre¬ 
sent themselves to the observations of a diligent and philosophical 
student of Natural History, calculated alike to expand the faculties 
of his mind, and to raise him in the scale of rationa 1 and moral ex¬ 
cellence. Though the animal kingdom ranks foremost in point of 
importance, we may distinguish the same exquisite skill in vegetable 
productions ; it was my intention to have enumerated a few of them, 
but as I have already extended my paper to a sufficient length, I 
will, at a future time, offer a few observations upon the subject. 
In conclusion, allow me just to suggest a hint to your correspondents, 
in the department of Natural History, I am persuaded it might be 
of great use to many of your readers, who have but an imperfect 
knowledge of that most useful science, if occasionally, articles were 
written illustrative of some of the more interesting parts of it. Such 
apian would place within the reach of many a mass of valuable in¬ 
formation, attainable only by those who have the means of purchas¬ 
ing large and valuable works, and who have also time to read them. 
I must acknowledge there has been many highly useful communica¬ 
tions already made, but I regret much, they have but been few, com¬ 
pared with the original communications in the other department. I 
feel confident, such of your correspondents, who possess means of in¬ 
formation inaccessible to the majority of your readers, will liberally 
come forward, and communicate the result of their observations to 
those who are less fortunately situated, and to whom they will be so 
highly acceptable. 
John Smithurst. 
Lea, July 19///, 1832. 
