MR. DRURY'S PREFACE 



TO THE FIRST EDITION. 



VOL. II. 



To gratify a laudable curiosity, and lead the mind to the exercise of one of its noblest 

 faculties, was the motive that first encouraged me to publish a work of this kind. How 

 far it has answered these ends, what pleasure it has produced, of what benefit or advantage 

 it has been to mankind, by inducing them to contemplate the admirable works of Provi- 

 dence, and trace its wisdom and goodness through the medium of this branch of the history 

 of nature, are circumstances, the confined sphere of life in which I have hitherto moved, 

 has not given me those opportunities of knowing that I could wish. But the kind 

 reception the first volume of this work has met with, seems to justify the opinion that it 

 has not been written in vain. 



In the Preface to my former volume, I told my readers, that my design of giving an 

 addition to that work, would entirely depend on the reception the public should be pleased 

 to give it. I was willing to have some proof of the public approbation, before I ventured 

 rashly to engage further in so considerable an expense as the engraving and colouring the 

 plates, &c. which was too great for me to incur without a prospect of a reimbursement. 



It is now with the utmost pleasure I can declare, that I have the greatest reason to be 

 satisfied on that head ; the woi-ld has generously encouraged my first attempt, and it 

 is to that cause the present volume owes its appearance. The quick sale of a great num- 

 ber of copies, on the first publication, was a proof of the great progress natural history 

 had made ; and gave me the utmost hopes a continuation might be equally as acceptable, 

 if conducted on the same plan, and rendered as agreeable by the exertion of the artist's 

 abilities. I have now the satisfaction of offering a volume to the public not inferior to 

 the first. 



It is a pleasing reflection to consider the great strides natural history is making in this 



kingdom, as well as in other parts of the world ; and the many publications on the various 



subjects of nature, that have made their appearance within these last three or four years, is 



a circumstance that must give every man of a liberal mind the greatest satisfaction. We 



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