PREFACE. xvU 



and manifeftly proved the utility of the pro- 

 ject, in a learned difcourle prefixed to his 



work ^. 



If then Zoology can fnggeft fo many 

 hints towards enlarging and improving our 

 manufadlures and agriculture ; we fhall not 

 think our time mifapplied, in offering to the 

 publick, the NATURAL HISTORY of 

 the ^ladrupeds and Birds of GREAT BRI- 

 TAIN. This compilation had its peculiar 

 difficulties; but the labor of travelling through 

 a dry arrangement of the fubjed, was very 

 frequently alleviated by the beautiful fpeci- 

 mens we met with in our progrefs : befides, 

 we own with pleafure that we have been 

 greatly aided by the lovers of natural hiflory, 

 who fince the appearance of the firft edition 

 have contributed to enrich the prefent with 

 feveral valuable obfervations ; by collefting 

 and digefting thefe materials, we have not 

 only rendered the work more complete, but 

 are alfo encouraged to trace the BrifiJIj Zo^ 

 ology through fome of the remaining claffes. 



Let therefore every merit that may appear 

 in the prefent edition, and every error that 



* Snvedijb Trafts, tranflated from the Aman. Acad, fecond 

 •ditioQ. 



b may 



