By J. C. LOUDON, F.L. G. & Z.S.

MEMBER OF VARIOUS NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETIES ON THE CONTINENT.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR

LONGMAN, REES, ORME, BROWN, GREEN, AND LONGMAN,

PATERNOSTER-ROW.

PREFACE.

EVERY additional Volume which appears of the Magazine of Natural History bears evidence of the increasing taste for pursuits of this kind in the reading world, as well as of the augmentation of our readers and correspondents.

The present Volume, among other valuable information, contains notices of various new cheap publications on the subject of Natural History; the sale of which, to such an extent as to remunerate the publishers, may be considered as an undoubted evidence that a taste for this science has pervaded all ranks. It is gratifying to us to reflect that we have been among the first to rouse this dormant love of nature and truth; and still more so, to look forward to the influence which a love of nature, simple truth, and matters of fact, must one day have on the general state of society. The first symptom of the decline of superstition, and of a blind reverence for whatever has the sanction of antiquity, is the incipient desire of examining the tangible objects which surround us. The first taste of mankind is for fables; the last, for matters of fact. As the spread of a taste for natural history all over the world interferes with no political or religious interest, it is already making rapid strides towards that desirable period, when, in the figurative language of the Bible, the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the seas.

In thanking our contributors for the continued assistance which they afford us, we have at the same time to apologise for the tardiness with which some of their communications are inserted, and for the abridgment of others. The truth is, that so abundant is our supply of materials relating to the delightful subjects which our work embraces, that we could, with the greatest facility, as far as matter is concerned, bring out this Magazine twice as often as it now appears.

Bayswater, Oct. 16. 1833.

J. C. L.