PREFACE. To those young friends who have read my Tales about Europe, Asia, Africa, America, the Ocean, the Sun, &c., I now offer this Thirteenth and enlarged Edition of my "Tales about Animals," in the hope that, having been amused and instructed by what they have already read, this book may be esteemed by them an additional source of recreation, and form an agreeable introduction to the study of Natural History. I have deemed it most desirable that the memories of my readers should not be burdened with hard words, difficult for them to understand, and requiring a larger space than is at my disposal to explain them; therefore I have refrained from using not only the scientific names of the animals here treated of, but also the various scientific terms necessary to describe their peculiarities, which belong more properly to works of a more advanced nature. Neither have I been particular in arranging all the animals according to their class, order, or genus; thus, the whale, the dolphin, the porpoise, are described with the fishes, though they are really warm-blooded animals that must of necessity breathe atmospheric air; yet their form, place of residence, and general mode of living, make them so resemble fishes, that it seemed most convenient to describe them as I have done. While thus attempting to smooth the approaches to the a 2 History of Animated Nature, I indulge the hope of soon learning that this interesting subject, which contains so much to attract and delight both young and old, may become a recognised branch of the tree of knowledge, which flourishes, or should flourish, in all our schools, feeling certain that this delightful science will fully repay all the time and trouble requisite to become acquainted with its details. No cost or labour has been spared in collecting materials suitable for my purpose-to gratify the curiosity of my youthful friends, to refine their taste, and to aid them in forming correct ideas of the different objects delineated. Few things are more provokingly misleading than the sight of pictorial illustrations which bear no resemblance whatever to the living creatures of which they profess to be correct representations. To prevent any such complaint against this production, the drawings furnished to the engravers have, where possible, been taken from living specimens in the Zoological Gardens, Regent's Park; and will, in almost every instance, be recognised as faithful likenesses of the animals which they purport to represent. It has likewise been my care to make this volume accord as far as possible with its title of "Tales about Animals," by presenting the details concerning them in a lively and engaging style, intended to inspire the minds of all my readers with feelings of kindness towards the brute creation, and tending to remind them continually that every portion of it is the wonderful handiwork of Deity. PETER PARLEY. |