ANIMATED NATURE. 9 



number of individuals, but their constant succession and 

 renovation, that constitutes their species." 



These are the ingenious paradoxes of a man who com- 

 bined all the sportiveness of an exuberant fancy with a 

 profound and comprehensive understanding ; and from 

 whose invaluable works on natural history, a more inti- 

 mate knowledge of the economy, habits, and propensities, 

 of different animals may be acquired, than from all the 

 systematic writers taken together. Happy would it have 

 been, however, had Buffon been more delicate in his effu- 

 sions, and grafted his beautiful descriptions and delinea- 

 tions on the correct and regular system of Linn^us. The 

 study of animated nature would, by such an union, have 

 acquired many additional attractions and advantages. 



From the long-continued labours of PENNANT in the 

 ample field of natural history, the student, whether British 

 or foreign, will derive much useful information and in- 

 struction. Whatever he touched he improved, though 

 his manner is peculiar: and, as he investigated all the^ 

 classes of animals, and made us acquainted >vith the 

 zoology of our own country in particular, it would be un- 

 pardonable not to present my readers with a synopsis of 

 his scheme. As the present work is designed for the use 

 of English youth alone, I shall retain his trivial names, 

 though not his mode of classification. 



This able and diligent naturalist, who has furnished 

 the world with one of the most accurate and satisfactory 

 systems of quadrupeds, perhaps, that ever appeared, 

 divides them into hoofed, digitated, pinnated, and winged. 

 The hoofed quadrupeds he subdivides into whole and 

 cloven-hoofed ; the digitated into frugivorous, carnivor- 

 ous, and insectivorous, (those who feed on grain, flesh, or 

 insects,) regarding at the same time the number of the 

 canine teeth ; the pinnated he distinguishes by being 

 piscivorous or herbivorous (feeding on fishes or herbs) ; 

 and the winged, including the bat tribe, by being 

 insectivorous. 



The numerous class of birds he comprehends under two 

 5 



