------------------------------------------------------------------------
_Preliminary and Confidential_
Fair reader (and unfair one, of either sex), I pray you be not dismayed
by the profundity of this discourse. Doubtless there are some
light-minded observers who would have seen in the natural phenomena
herein recorded the very quintessence of humor, the apotheosis of the
comical. Such pretenders to scientific and literary eminence would
entertain the same view of the noble Titanotherium Robustum, or the
sublime Stegosaurus Ungulatus. They would have cast merry doubts upon
the improving conversation between Balaam and his Ass; ridiculed the
psychic resources of the Birds of St. Francis d’Assisi; scoffed at the
gratitude of Æsop’s Lion; denied the acumen of the Jumping Frog of
Calaveras; yea, and presumed to say “scat” to the sacred Cat of
Bubastis.
Fair reader (or unfair one), be warned against all such triflers with
the important truths of nature. Life is earnest. Turn the page—read,
ponder, and be wise.