CONCLUSION. 247 



It has been our intention to render this study 

 pleasing and intelligible, more than to discuss mi- 

 nutia of classification; to give the Natural History, 

 instead of the nomenclature of American animals; 

 to impart information to those seeking for knowledge, 

 rather than to prepare a book for such as consider 

 themselves the founders of systems and settlers of 

 moot points in philosophy. If we have accom- 

 plished nothing more, we have rendered it much 

 easier for our successors to attempt the composition 

 of a better work, having saved them the toil of 

 examining a vast number of books, to glean the 

 detached observations worthy of being brought 

 together. 



" Reader, I have given thee an Account of my 

 u intendments and endeavours in this Performance; 

 u and if it hath, (as 1 am too conscious to myself, it 

 u often hath,) happened, that I have any where fail- 

 w ed of my design; if in a long and tedious Work, 

 " I have, thro' inadvertency, streights of time, and 

 " hurry sometimes of other business, made any balk, 

 u and committed mistakes, let thy humanity excuse 

 " the humane infirmities of Thine, and his Coun- 

 " try's Faithful Servant," 



JOHN D. GODMAN. 



