PREFACE. r 



to strip natural history of \vhateverisreinote from popu- 

 lar expression and popular ideas, and to teach her those 

 blandishments, which invite and insinuate, and attract 

 the notice, and even the regard of the gay, the careless, 

 and the indolent. Buflbn, like most other eminent 

 philosophers of France, intermixes ill-founded, and 

 fantastic theory, in a large proportion, v. ith extensive 

 and enlightened views of nature, and the most beauti- 

 ful delineations of facts. Linnaeus seems to have pro- 

 posed to himself to form simply an index to these 

 parts of the volume of creation which are open to hu- 

 man view. Both are eminently eloquent ; but the 

 eloquence of Buffon is copious, diffusive, and often 

 declamatory and redundant : while Linnaeus is re- 

 markably concise and energetic. Yet whatever 

 may be their comparative merits, Buffon will long 

 continue one of the most popular writers on scientific 

 subjects : but, it is not probable, that the volumes of 

 Linnaeus will ever be fondly perused by any but men 

 of science. 



These views of the importance and extent of natu- 

 ral history, of the ardour with which it is, at present, 

 cultivated, and of the character of the most popular of 

 the capital writers upon the science, first suggested the 

 idea of the PRESENT ABRIDGMENT. It seemed pro- 

 bable, that the work of Buflfon might become still more 

 popuLir, and of consequence, more generally useful, 

 if it could be reduced to a less bulky and less expen- 

 sive form. It was natural to observe, that of those 

 who are desirous of acquiring some knowledge of na- 

 tural history, or of amusing themselves with the con- 

 templation of the objects which it presents, many are 

 unwilling to be detained by theory, however plausible, 

 to listen to amplifying declamation, or tc perplex them-- 



