FRANCIS WILLUGHBY. ] 07 



together whatever of this nature is any where 

 extant, but have used choice and inserted only 

 such particulars as ourselves can warrant upon 

 our own knowledge and experience, or whereof 

 we have assurance by the testimony of good 

 authors or sufficient witnesses. Concerning the 

 names of birds we did not much trouble our- 

 selves, there having been disputing enough about 

 them long ago ; but have, for the most part, fol- 

 lowed Gesner and Aldrovandus, being unwilling 

 to disturb what is settled, or dispossess names 

 that may, for their use, plead prescription ; and 

 because Mr Willughby (though sparing neither 

 pains nor cost) could not procure, and conse- 

 quently did not describe all sorts of birds; to 

 perfect the work, I have added the descriptions 

 and histories of those that are wanting f out of 

 Gesner, Aldrovandus, Bellonius, Marggravius, 

 Clasius, Hernandez, Bontius, Wormius, and Piso, 

 disposing each kind as near as I could in its pro- 

 per place. Now, because elegant descriptions 

 and accurate figures do much illustrate the under- 

 standing of descriptions, in order to the engraving 

 figures for this work, Mr Willughby made a col- 

 lection of as many pictures drawn in colors by 

 the life as he could procure. First, He purchased 

 of one Leonard Baltner, a fisherman of Stras- 

 burgh, a volume containing the pictures of all the 

 water-fowl frequenting the Rhene, near that city, 

 as also all the fish and water-insects found there, 



t These articles are severally distinguished by an 

 asterisk * throughout the work. 



