PREFACE.

In respect to the plan of its arrangement, the Fifth Book corresponds to the Fourth precisely as the Fourth Book corresponds to the Third. That is, the reader is again introduced to the subjects concerning which, from the previous volume, he learnt just enough to be curious to learn more; and he finds those subjects treated in a more comprehensive manner and from a higher point of view.*

The Miscellaneous section still preserves much of its lightness and variety, but shows a tendency to diverge, as it proceeds, into a more serious current. Questions bearing upon the formation of character and upon the laws of thought are enlarged upon in language which will require severer efforts of reflection than anything which the pupil has yet met with in the series.

In

In Books III. and IV. the "Descriptive Travel" followed a line drawn from the North to the South Pole. the present volume it makes a circuit round the globe. As the Descriptive Travel of this section takes a pretty wide range, it has been found convenient to blend with them such lessons on Animals as, in the earlier books, would have been placed in a separate section.

* An Advanced Text Book is under contemplation.

In the division on "History," the reader is made to retrace his steps on the same principle as that stated in the Preface to Book IV.*; and that period has now been reached at which it is necessary to view the causes and effects of colonisation and conquest.

The Natural Science section deals pretty largely with the results of microscopical research. It contains also some chapters which are supplementary to the Physical Geography of Book IV.

*I. e. that of the 4th edition.