P E E P A C E. 



The only translation of Pliky's -Natural Histoet wliich 

 has hitherto appeared in the English language is that by 

 Philemon Holland, published in the latter part of the reign 

 of Elizabeth. It is no disparagement to Holland's merits, 

 as a diligent and generally faithful translator, to say that 

 liis v/ork is unsuited to the requirements of the nineteenth 

 century. 



In the present translation, the principal editions of 

 Pliny have been carefully consulted, and no pains have 

 been spared, as a reference to the Notes wiU show, to 

 present to the reader the labours of recent Commentators, 

 among whom stands pre-eminent the celebrated Cuvier. It 

 has been a primary object to bring to the illustration of the 

 work whatever was aftbrded by the progress of knowledge 

 and modern discoveries in science and art. "Without ample 

 illustration, Pliny's valuable work would want much of the 

 interest which belongs to it, and present difficulties scarcely 

 siu-mountable by any one who has not made the Author his 

 especial study. 



In the first two Eooks, the text of Hardouin, as given in 

 Lemaire's edition (Paris, 1827), has been followed ; in the 



