vi . PREFACE. 



cult, 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 Mr. Burton's lights in the first part of the work, I may with some share of confidence re- 

 commend 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 rny reading upon this part of the subject has been very extensive ; and that I have 

 taxed my scanty circumstances in procuring books, which are on this 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 language, 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 characterizing the generals, and describing their operations, 

 while they left it to meaner hands to carry the muster-roll. I have followed their manner, 

 rejecting' the numerous fables which they adopted, and adding the improvements of the 

 moderns, which are so numerous, that they actually make up the bulk of natural history. 



The delight which I found in reading Pliny, first inspired me with the idea of a work of this 

 nature. Having a taste rather classical than scientific, and having but little employed myself 

 in turning over the dry labours of modern system-makers, my earliest intention was to trans- 

 late this agreeable writer, and by the help of a commentary to make my work as amusing as 

 I could. Let us dignify natural history never so much with the grave appellation of an useful 

 science, yet still we must confess, that it is the occupation of the idle and the speculative, more 

 than of the busy and the ambitious part of mankind. My intention, therefore, was to treat 

 what I then conceived to be an idle subject, in an idle manner ; and not to hedge round plain 

 and simple narratives with hard words, accumulated distinctions, ostentatious learning, and 

 disquisitions that produced no conviction. Upon the appearance, however, of Mr. Buffbn's 

 work, I dropped my former plan, and adopted the present, being convinced, by his manner, 

 that the best imitation of the ancients was to write from our own feelings, and to imitate nature. 



It will be my chief pride, therefore, if this work may be found an innocent amusement for 

 those who have nothing else to employ them, or who require a relaxation from labour. Pro- 

 fessed naturalists will, no doubt, find it superficial; and yet I should hope that even these will 

 discover hints and remarks, gleaned from various reading, not wholly trite or elementary, 

 would wish for their approbation. But my chief ambition is to drag up the obscure and 

 gloomy learning of the cell to open inspection, to strip it from its garb of austerity, and to show 

 the beauties of that form, which only the industrious and the inquisitive have been hitherto 

 permitted to approach. 



