VOL. VI.] SIBBALD'S PRODROMUS. 35 



cunctis / perspicue exponuntur. / Cum Figuris Aeneis / 

 Opus viginti Annoruni / Serenissimi Domini Regis Caroli 

 II, Magnae Britanniae &c. / Monarche Jussu cditum. / 

 Auctore Roberto Sibbaldo M.D. Equite Auiatro, Medico 

 & Geographo / Regio, & Regii Medicoium Collegii apud 

 Edinburgum Socio / Edinburgi,/ Ex Ofificina Tvpo- 

 graphica Jacobi Kniblo, Josuae Solingensis / & Johamiis 

 Colmarii, Sumptibus Auctoris / Anno Domini M. D. C. 

 LXXXIV, 1 Vol. Folio. 



Collation pp. 4 un.4- pp. 18 + pp. 18un.+ pp. 102 + 

 pp. Gun. (Pars Prima) + pp. 6 un.+ pp. 114 + pp. 6 un. 

 (Pars secunda, liber primus & secundus) + pj). 6 un. + 

 pp. 56 (Pars secunda, liber tertius) + pp. 2 un, & 22 

 plates. 



Birds are dealt A^ith in the Third Book of the second part, 

 pp. 11-22, and again on p. 36 of the same book, where under 

 the heading "' A discourse of the geese of Scotland," the well- 

 known fable of the generation of the Barnacle-Goose from 

 " seeds and rotting timber," is discussed and confuted. 



Although the ornithological matter in the " Prodromus " 

 is far inferior to that contained in Willughby's Oryiithology 

 (1676), much of Sibbald's information being derived from " the 

 communications of ignorant and credulous correspondents,"* 

 it nevertheless contains much that is of interest and importance. 

 It is perhaps best, however, to let Sibbald's remarks speak for 

 themselves, and as the original work is printed in obscure 

 and somewhat involved Latin, we have appended a free 

 translation of Sibbald's account of the birds of his native 

 country, omitting only those parts which are of a medical 

 nature, and adding some few brief anotations where 

 necessary, f 



* The " Prodromus " was severely attacked by Dr. Archibald Pitcairne 

 (1652-1713), a contemporary of Sibbald's, and eminent as a Physician, 

 Mathematician, and Poet, in a work entitled Disertatio de legibus 

 Historicae Naturalis. Edinbiirgh 1696. 



f It is almost impossible at times to translate Sibbald's Latin literally, 

 but an attempt has been made to preserve the correct sense as far as 

 possible. My best thanks are due to Mr. Hugh S. Gladstone of Capenoch, 

 for placing at my disposal a translation and notes of the '" Prodromus." 



