MUSEUM OF ZOOLOGY

1927-492- Gm
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Museum

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CUVIER, GRIFFITH, RICHARDSON, GEOFFREY, LACEPEDE,

BUFFON, GOLDSMITH, SHAW, MONTAGUE, WILSON, LEWIS AND CLARK6,

:RARY

TRANSFERRED TO
BUEEUM OF COMPARATIVE 200LOGY.

Entered according to the Act of Congress, in the year 1833,

BY CARTER, HENDEE, & CO. , in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of Massachusetts.

STEREOTYPED AT THE
LANCASTER TYPE AND STEREOTYPE FOUNDRY,

LANCASTER, MASS.

Winslun 1-14.31

PREFACE.

"The study of Natural History has become so extensive as, to call for a great multiplication of books upon the subject. A few years ago, the translation of Buffon, which appeared under the title of “Goldsmith's Animated Nature,” was almost the only work in popular use. Even when its' utter want of accuracy and adaptation to the improved state of science was generally known, it still continued to be reprinted, and was probably the instrument of disseminating nearly as much error as truth.

But within a short period, several excellent works have appeared in Europe, combining, in a good degree, popular and pleasing descriptions of animals, with scientific accuracy. In the present volume, the editor has attempted to compile from these a more complete and comprehensive system of popular and scientific Zoology than has heretofore appeared, in any form accessible to common readers.

The work is arranged according to the classification of Stark, which being based upon that of Cuvier, we believe is more generally approved than any other. Although the work embraces scientific names and descriptions, yet these are made to occupy as little compass as possible, and are placed at the foot of the pages in the form of notes. We regard the subject of Zoology as one of great utility, and desiring that it should be extensively read, we have sought