X PREFACE. 



sentiments of respect and esteem for the me- 

 mory, as well as for the talents, of the late 

 Mr. Pennant; yet he has long felt that the in- 

 discriminate mixture of description and anec- 

 dote, throughout that gentleman's work on 

 British Zoology, is attended with numerous 

 inconveniences. In a popular view it is ob- 

 jectionable, as it certainly derogates from the 

 interest that would be otherwise excited; and 

 to persons desirous of examining the animals 

 from his description, it is, occasionally, very 

 troublesome. In the scheme, of which the 

 present volume affords a specimen, the de- 

 scription will be found in terms as precise as 

 can, with propriety, be adopted ; and to have, 

 in all cases, the respective parts following each 

 other, as nearly as possible, in the same suc- 

 cession. 



During the several years that this work has 

 been in preparation, the author requests per- 

 mission to state, that no labour or diligence 

 have on his part been spared to render it de- 

 serving 



