xii PREFACE. 



which the arrangement was so difficult, and the 

 necessary information so widely diffused, and so 

 obscurely related when found, that it proved by 

 much the most laborious part of the undertaking. 

 Thus having made use of M. Buffon's lights in 

 the first part of the work, I may, with some share 

 of confidence recommend it to the public. But 

 what shall I say to that part, where I have been 

 entirely left without his assistance ? As I would 

 affect neither modesty nor confidence, it will be 

 sufficient to say, that my reading upon this part 

 of the subject has been very extensive ; and that 

 I have taxed my scanty circumstances in procur- 

 ing books which are on the subject, of all others 

 the most expensive. 



In consequence of this industry, I here offer a 

 work to the public, of a kind which has never 

 been attempted in ours, or any other modern lan- 

 guage, that I know of. The ancients, indeed, and 

 Pliny in particular, have anticipated me in the 

 present manner of treating natural history. Like 

 those historians who describe the events of a 

 campaign, they have not condescended to give 

 the private particulars of every individual that 

 formed the army ; they were content with cha- 

 racterizing the generals, and describing their ope- 

 rations, while they left it to meaner hands to 

 carry the muster-roll. I have followed their man- 

 ner, rejecting the numerous fables which they 

 adopted, and adding the improvements of the mo- 

 derns, which are so numerous, that they actually 

 make up the bulk of natural history. 



