Excerpt from Ocean Life

Yet there are many places, especially in the shallower waters, densely clothed with forests of sea-plants, which are inhabited by numerous and varied representatives of the animal kingdom. It is astonishing, how many living species may be found in a small tide-pool, where circumstances have favored their necessi ties. In the Tableau, however, no attempt has been made to exhibit congruous forms, or even those from waters of the same temperature. The objects have been taken (as will be seen by reference to the key, ) from localities widely separated, and are brought together with regard to their habits, so as to set forth, (with the aid of the text, ) their peculiarities, and their positions, and relations to each other, in their respective classes, and to show the dependence of the great kingdoms upon each other. The work is chie¿y intended for popular use, and the hope is humbly indulged, that it may prove an aid, and an incentive to the great study of comparative zoology, an acquaintance with which seems indispensable to a comprehensive knowledge of man kind. The description of the plate is so arranged that the reader will be conducted from the investigation of the lower forms of life, (as they appear to as, ) to those more complicated in struc ture.

The picture was executed in water colors by Mr. C. Schuessele, and it is with much pleasure that I acknowledge his superior qualifications as an artist. I am also happy to speak in the highest terms of praise, of the abilities of Mr. F. Moras, who re produced the Tableau in a very superior style of chromo-litho graphy. I would likewise gratefully express my obligation for valuable suggestions, to Mr. James Hamilton, the distinguished marine and landscape painter. In offering the work to the public, I do not pretend that it has reached perfection, neither am I confident that its accuracy is faultless, yet every effort has been made to render it a truthful and acceptable medium for impart ing knowledge. Any errors which may have crept in while pass ing through the hands of the different operators, (if conscious of them, ) I have corrected by drawings in the pamphlet. The text is chie¿y compiled from the writings of European authors of cc lebrity. I have been guided in making the selections, which are from many sources, by my own observations upon living objects.

About the Publisher

Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully, any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.