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Edinburgh. Printed by Ballantyn & Company, Paul's Work.

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INTRODUCTION.

UMAN character has ever been a favourite subject of study. It is impossible for any

one, whatever be his civilisation or intellectual development, to associate with others, and not discover how helpful or hurtful they can be to him. That prime necessity, which renders indispensable to a man a knowledge of the baneful or beneficial qualities of animals, fruits, and soils, also requires of him an acquaintance with man,-a far more powerful agent for his good or evil than all animate or inanimate creation beside. Men soon learn how to regard animals and the produce of the soil, for the circumstances which determine their good or evil tendencies are few, simple, and, above all, uniform in their influence. A very slight induction of facts would convince the dullest that every animal of certain species is dangerous-of others, harmless; that this fruit satisfies his hunger, that

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