PREFACE. ix 



parade of ufelefs declamation, and fliall only 

 add, that as few countries receive more ad- 

 vantages from their natural breed of quadru- 

 peds, unmixed with any beaft that preys 

 on man, fo, few can boail a greater variety 

 of birds, whether local, or migratory. 



This is a general view of the natural hif- 

 tory of our own country; why then fhould 

 we negledt inquiring into the various benefits 

 that refult from thefe inftances of the wifdom 

 of our Creator, which his divine munifi- 

 cence has fo liberally, and fo immediately 

 placed before us ? Such a negleft is certain- 

 ly highly to be blamed, for (to exprefs 

 ourfelves in the words of an eminent writer) 

 *^ the Creator did not beftow fo much 

 ^* curiofity, and workmanfliip on his crea- 

 ** tures, to be looked on with a carelefs in- 

 *^ curious eye, efpecially to have them ilight- 

 *^ ed or contemned j but to be admired by 

 *^ the rational part of the world, to magnify 

 *' his own power to all the world, and the 

 *^ ages thereof; and fince the works of the 

 ** creation are all of them fo many demon- 

 ** ftrations of the infinite wifdom and power 

 " of God, they may ferve to us, as fo'ma- 

 ^' ny arguments exciting us to a conftant fear 



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