INTRODUCTION. A DICTIONARY of Animated NATURE, upon a comprehensive plan, had long occupied my thoughts, before I first publicly announced my intention of making this addition to my series of popular "TREASURIES." * Now although I cannot charge myself with being idle during that period, or with omitting to avail myself of the writings of the most distinguished authors that had recently contributed to the stock of Zoological Science, it is certain that at the outset of this undertaking I underrated the difficulties I might have to contend with in treating the subject at the same time popularly and, as it always ought to be treated, systematically; neither did I accurately calculate the time and labour absolutely necessary to carry out my original design; the publication of this volume has consequently been protracted. It has also been further delayed owing to a very serious illness with which I have recently been afflicted, but from which, with humble thanksgivings to the Almighty Dispenser of Life and Health, I am now rapidly recovering Having thus at length, however, been permitted to bring the Work to a close, I trust there may be reason to hope that my readers will find it not altogether unworthy of their kind patronage, or in any way derogating from the high character which its precursors have so generally borne. It will be seen at the first glance, that the whole of the articles are printed in alphabetical order; so that, the name of any animal being previously known, its zoological character and its habits can be instantly ascertained; while those persons who wish to study this branch of Natural History according to the most approved modern system will only have to refer to this "INTRODUCTION," and they will find not only an outline of Cuvier's celebrated arrangement, as developed in the last edition of his Regne Animal' with those alterations and additions required by the present advanced state of the science, but, under each Class and Order, references to the different genera, &c. described in the body of the Work. Thus, this CLASSIFIED INDEX will be the means of supplying the necessary systematic information. But whether the articles be so consulted, or merely read in a more desultory way, I believe that a vast fund of instruction and amusement will be found here collected. And so, in truth, there ought. Many of the most celebrated standard zoological works have been put under contribution, and accurate information has been gleaned from all. Nor is it among the least of the advantages which, I presume, this volume will be found to possess over most others on this subject, that, besides numerous entirely new articles, and condensed abridgments of the more elaborate writings of many acknowledged authorities, I have had an opportunity of making The four volumes already published have met with a degree of favour far beyond their merits from the public in general, and have been severally honoured by such encomiums from the critical bench as might possibly make a younger man conceited. Gratifying as it is, however, to hear that I have earned these "golden opinions," I trust that I have so humble an opinion of my own literary powers as will ever ensure me from being much injured by the intoxicating effects of over-doses of praise. "Averse alike to flatter or offend, Not free from faults, nor yet too vain to mend." myself acquainted with many interesting facts now for the first time recorded in a popular digest of Animated Nature. It will also be apparent that I have not hesitated to make copious extracts from the recent Publications of various living writers who have displayed the wonders of Animated Nature under new aspects, and with increased force, originality, and beauty. In this, I have most scrupulously acknowledged the sources whence my pages have been enriched; and to the many scientific men and pleasing writers to whom I am thus indebted I beg to return my warmest acknowledgments. The names of Owen, Gray, Bell, Yarrell, Dr. G. Johnston, Broderip, Sowerby, Forbes, of Gould, Darwin, Gosse, Hewitson, Knapp, and Waterton-of Kirby, Spence, Dr. Harris of Harvard College, Newman, and Westwood, are foremost among the many to whom these remarks apply. It would be easy to extend my Introductory Remarks to a considerable length by dilating on the uses and advantages to be derived from an acquaintance with Natural History; nor would it be difficult to show how much that is bright and beautiful in Nature is for ever lost to him who has never become conversant with the study. But my inclination is to avoid what some ill-natured critics might term twaddle, and my limits forbid me to descant on a theme which others (who are far better qualified than I can ever possibly become) have treated with all the ardent enthusiasm that is inherent in the breast of every true votary of Nature. The subject, indeed, presents a wide field for the employment of the mental faculties; and I confess it is difficult to repress some of the thoughts that arise from its contemplation. No part can be viewed as unimportant or uninteresting - none that is unworthy of the most attentive consideration, or that can fail to impress the mind with feelings of profound admiration for the works of NATURE. Marvellous, indeed, as they are all, the most astounding manifestations of Supreme Intelligence are unquestionably displayed in his character as "LORD AND GIVER OF LIFE," as the Creator and Preserver of all that "live, move, and have their being." It is therefore that portion of the "wondrous whole" which we term The ANIMAL KINGDOM that demands our especial regard, and is in the highest degree calculated to gratify a laudable curiosity, as well as to reward the labours of the most diligent research. The Zoological descriptions are followed by a Syllabus of PRACTICAL TAXIDERMY. This has been kindly furnished by Mr. A. Hepburn of Whittingham, an enthusiast in the pursuit of Natural History; and, besides having the merit of being truly practical, his directions to the Amateur Collector have been framed with more than ordinary attention to economy. It might have succeeded as a separate publication; but the attractive nature of this volume, I trust, is likely to make it very extensively known. The GLOSSARIAL APPENDIX has been added to the other contents of the Volume in the belief that such a Collection of Terms was much wanted by the Tyro in Zoology, and that careful definitions of many words which frequently occur in the works of Naturalists would be esteemed as real desiderata. As to the manner in which this Work has been embellished, I can speak with perfect satisfaction. About Nine Hundred accurate Woodcuts have been given; and in order that this highly important part of the Work should not be treated slightly or erroneously, I obtained the valuable assistance of Mr. Adam White, of the British Museum, a gentleman who to the enthusiasm belonging to the true Naturalist unites a sober judgment and great experience. To him was accordingly entrusted the selection of all the subjects, and under his superintendence every drawing has been made by competent artists. And here let me add that I have availed myself of Mr. White's acknowledged Zoological attainments, and improved my book by adopting many valuable hints and suggestions with which he has from time to time kindly furnished me. The Engravings are in Mr. R. Branston's best manner, and will no doubt be properly appreciated. I shall now proceed to give a Systematic Classification of the principal contents of this volume, a mode which, I trust, will be found at once simple and scientific, and calculated to remove any objection that might be urged against my adoption of the alphabetical arrangement in the body of the Work. As Cuvier has remarked, "there can only be one perfect method, which is the natural method. An arrangement is thus named in which beings of the same genus are placed nearer to each other than to those of all other genera; the genera of the same order nearer than to those of other orders; and so in succession. This method is the ideal to which Natural History should tend; for it is evident that, if we can attain it, we shall have the exact and complete expression of all nature. In fact, each being is determined by its resemblance to others, and its differences from them; and all these relations would be fully given by the arrangement which we have indicated. In a word, the natural method would be the whole science, and each step towards it tends to advance the science to perfection.” * "When the ALMIGHTY CREATOR willed to bring into existence this mundane system, he formed it according to a preconcerted plan, with all its parts beautifully linked together and mutually corresponding. All things were ordered in measure, and number, and weight.' [Wisdom, xi. 20.] There was nothing deficient, nothing superduous; but the whole, in the strictest selise, was very good,' [Genes. i. 31.) and calculated in the highest degree to answer the purpose of its GREAT AUTHOR. I call it a system of Correlation, because there is discernible in it, in the first place, a concatenation of its parts, by which, as to their forms and uses, objects are linked together in groups by a chain of affinities; so that we pass from one to the other by gentle gradations, without having to overleap any wide interval. We see also a gradual ascent from low to high, from less to more excellent. And this leads us to another kind of relationship between natural objects, by which, though placed in distinct groups or in a different series, they in some sort represent and symbolize each other. Examples of this relationship by analogy are to be found in every kingdom of nature, and often form an ascend ing series from the lowest to the highest; for, as we shall see hereafter, these resemblance appear to maintain a certain correspondence with each other as to their relative situations; so that, for instance, in the animal kingdom they ascend step by step, without being linked by affinity or having any real juxtaposition, from the lowest groups, towards man, who stands alone at the head, or in the centre of all." Kirby and Spence's Introduction to Entomology, vol. iv. THE ANIMAL KINGDOM, ARRANGED IN CLASSES, ORDERS, AND GENERA, ACCORDING TO ITS ORGANIZATION It has long been customary to apply the terms ANIMAL Kingdom, VegetABLE KINGDOM, and MINERAL KINGDOM, respectively, to the three grand portions of the "mighty whole" into which, when speaking of the science of Natural History, the countless productions of the Earth are systematically divided. In this simple and obvious arrangement, the Animal Kingdom is conspicuously pre-eminent in rank and importance; inasmuch as it comprehends all organized and living beings provided with a mouth and stomach, and endowed with the powers of sensation and voluntary locomotion. The Animal and Vegetable Kingdoms are, however, so intimately blended together, that this description is an insufficient guide to distinguish those organized beings which may be said to be on the confines of either Kingdom. The possession of nerves being supposed to be indispensable to the power of motion, a nervous system has been considered the distinguishing characteristic || of the Animal Kingdom, but in one division (Acrita, comprising Polypes, Infusoria, Animalcules, Sponges, &c.) no traces of nerves have hitherto been discovered. The best characteristic of the Animal Kingdom is the possession of a mouth or aperture through which food is received, and a stomach in which it is digested, and this would include all the organized beings which have ever been considered by naturalists to belong to the Animal Kingdom, except the various kinds of sponges. Our limits are prescribed, and further observations must necessarily be dispensed with in this place; but the following beautiful remarks by Mr. Rymer Jones so admirably illustrate the difficulty of drawing an exact line between the Animal and Vegetable Kingdoms, that we gladly conclude in his words:"Light and darkness are distinct from each other, and no one possessed of eye-sight would be in danger of confounding night with day; yet he who, looking upon the evening sky, would attempt to point out precisely the line of separation between the parting day and the approaching night, would have a difficult task to perform. Thus is it with the Physiologist who endeavours to draw the boundary between these two grand Kingdoms of Nature; for so gradually and imperceptibly do their confines blend, that it is at present utterly out of his power to define exactly where Vegetable existence ceases, and Animal life begins." |