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Convinced as the author is that a kuowledge of Natural History is best conveyed through the alluring medium of Poetry; if his present effort be approved, it is his intention to proceed (should health and opportunity permit,) in a similar way with the remainder of the Animal kingdom. The whole will then be arranged in the following manner: I. MAMMALIA, or the QUADRUPEDS, and other animals which suckle their young; characterized by a heart having two ventricles and two auricles; the blood being red and warm; viviparous.

II. ORNITHOLOGIA, (the present Work,) or the BIRDS; the characters of which are the same as in the first class except that BIRDS are oviparous, covered with feathers, and furnished, for the most part, with wings, so as to be able to raise themselves in the air.

III. AMPHIBIA, which will include the Serpent, Crocodile, Frog, Toad, &c.; in this class the heart has but one ventricle and one auricle; the blood being red but cold; inspiration and expiration, in some measure, voluntary.

IV. ICHTHYOLOGIA, or the FISHES; the heart of this class has the same structure, and the blood similar qualities with those of the amphibia; but Fishes are distinguished by brunchiæ, or gills, and by having no such voluntary command of the lungs.

V. ENTOMOLOGIA, or the INSECTS; the heart has one ventricle, but no auricle; the blood is cold and white; this class has also antennæ or feelers.

VI. HELMINTHOLOGIA, or the WORMS; the characters of which are the same as in class V.; this Class has, however, no antennæ, but is furnished with tentacula.

And thus become, it is hoped, useful and amusing manuals of the science of Animal Natural History; and prove, besides, the author hopes and believes, that POETRY can be rendered subservient to NATURE and to TRUTH.

Of the WOOD-Engravings, improved from the elegant designs of a Lady, Mrs. HAMILTON, and executed by the author's friend, Mr. HENRY HUGHES, and which accompany the work, it is scarcely necessary to speak, their excellence being manifest. The author cannot, however, here avoid calling the public attention to this branch of the arts; and he, at the same time, hopes that an ARTIST who combines in his own person that of a Landscape-Draughtsman, a WoodEngraver, and a Painter, will not long remain without a suitable portion of public encouragement and reward. Mr. HUGHES is already known by his work containing Sixty Views in Wales, all of which, except one or two, were drawn on the spot, and afterwards engraved on wood, by the artist himself.

Ladywell, Lewisham ; October, 1827.

DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER.

The Plate of the British and European Birds, with the Landscape, must follow page 96; the Plate of the Foreign Birds with the Landscape must follow page 298.

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