PREFACE. 11 



' I have subjoined a list of the principal books which I have 

 consulted, (a catalogue of fifty three different works) with 

 a reference to the edition, which I used, and would st.ill men- 

 tion, that in the notes, (scattered through the volume) will 

 be found references to more than twice the number, in the 

 following catalogue. 



' In short, I have spared neither labor nor expense, in the 

 collection of materials ; and have aimed to make my work a 

 useful and valuable treasure of information, and worthy of the 

 approbation of the public. 



' Of my authorities and the use, which I have made of them, 

 it becomes me to speak with grateful acknowledgments. The 

 first and principal of these is Bochart, who in his Hierozoicon 

 has, in the most learned researches, traced the names of the 

 animals mentioned in Scripture through the different lan- 

 guages and dialects of the East,' &,c. &c. * He had the oppor- 

 tunity of consulting the Nat. Hist, of Damir, and other Ara- 

 bian authors. 



' The Plysique Sacr^e of Scheuchzer, in eight volumes folio, 

 is a magnificent work, with which a noble friend in Paris 

 supplied me. It has contributed greatly to enrich my arti- 

 cles ' 



He thus goes on to enumerate some of the most distinguish- 

 ed authors, who hnd been of assistance, in treating of the 

 PLANTS, the FISHES, INSECTS, and Precious Stones. 



Among these principal authorities, are the names of Hiller, 

 in the f tier opfiijti con t Celsius in his Hierobotanicon, Diosconi- 

 des, the Elder Pliny, Alpinus, Rauwolf, Hasselquist, Shaw, 

 Russell, Forskal, Bruce, Rudbeck, Lemnius, Braunius, and 

 Calrnet. 



The Lexicons of Castel, Buxtorf, Meninski, and Parkhurst 

 were the companions of his labors. The commentaries of 

 Micliaelis and the illustrations of Paxton, we may add to swell 

 the list. 



Under these circumstances it is, that Mr. Carpenter takes 

 up the work of Dr. Harris, and, changing the arrangement 

 from an Alphabetical to a Scientific one, making some omis- 

 sions and some alterations, and inserting some valuable ad- 

 ditions, claims the work as his own. A comparison of any 

 of the important articles in the two books, such as that on 

 Flax, the Behemoth, the Eagle, the Fox, but much more a 

 comparison of the two entire works will show how much of Mr. 

 Carpenter's matciials were made ready to his hand. 



