X PREFACE. 



In the translation of Gmelin's edition of Linn^eus's System 

 of Nature, London 1802, Dr Turton has marked with an as- 

 terisk all the species which he considered as indigenous to Bri- 

 tain. This list is by far the most extensive of any which has 

 yet appeared. The same industrious naturalist commenced in 

 1807 a British Fauna^ including the classes Mammalia, Birds, 

 Amphibia, Fishes, and Worms. He has since still further il- 

 lustrated the Shells of this country in his Conchological Dic- 

 tionary, and his still more valuable Bivalvia Britannica. 



Besides the authors now referred to, who aimed at the com- 

 pletion of systems of British Zoology, other naturalists, equal- 

 ly the followers of the Artificial Method, directed their atten- 

 tion to the elucidation of particular tribes of indigenous ani- 

 mals. As works of luxury in this department, may be noticed 

 the figures pubhshed by Albin, Edwards, Lewin, and last of 

 all those of Donovan, whose various publications have greatly 

 contributed to advance the interests of the science, by facilitat- 

 ing the naming" of species. 



But there were other labourers during this era, whose efforts 

 assumed a more scientific aspect. The late George Mon- 

 tagu, Esq. of Knowle House, Devonshire, cultivated with 

 zeal many departments of British Zoology. In 1802 he pub- 

 lished his Ornithological Dictionary, which contained a few 

 amended characters of species, and some new observations on 

 their economy. In 1813 a Supplement to this Dictionary 

 appeared, in which the author exhibited a more intimate ac- 

 quaintance with his subject, traced the effects of age, sex, 

 and season on the plumage of birds, "^nd exposed many mis- 

 takes in the establishment of species, which had been com- 

 mitted from a want of attention to these circumstances. But 

 Mr Montagu's labours were not confined to Ornithology. In 

 1803 the publication of his Tcstacea Britannica contributed 

 greatly to extend a knowledge of the number and chai'acters of 

 the native Molluscous animals, and which was still further aug- 

 mented by the Supplement to the same work, which appeared 

 in 1808. It is but a just tribute to the candour of this natu- 

 rahst to state, that in his writings he appeal's, progressively, to 

 have been forsaking the Artificial Method, and acquiring a 



X 



