Both busily, our needful food to win,
We work, as Nature taught, with ceaseless pains,
Thy bowels thou dost spin,
I spin my brains.
Southey, To a Spider.
Last o’er the field the Mite enormous swims,
Swells his red heart, and writhes his giant limbs.
Erasmus Darwin, The Temple of Nature.
PREFACE
The Editors feel that they owe an apology and some explanation to the readers of The Cambridge Natural History for the delay which has occurred in the issue of this, the fourth in proper order, but the last to appear of the ten volumes which compose the work. The delay has been due principally to the untimely death of Professor W. F. E. Weldon, who had undertaken to write the Section on the Crustacea. The Chapter on the Branchiopoda is all he actually left ready for publication, but it gives an indication of the thorough way in which he had intended to treat his subject. He had, however, superintended the preparation of a number of beautiful illustrations, which show that he had determined to use, in the main, first-hand knowledge. Many of these figures have been incorporated in the article by Mr. Geoffrey Smith, to whom the Editors wish to express their thanks for taking up, almost at a moment’s notice, the task which had dropped from his teacher’s hand.