VI PREFACE. 



and opinions of preceding writers, whether foreign or domestic, he 

 was disposed to take on himself the task of accomplishing, to the 

 best of his abilities, a work of that description. Numerous difficul- 

 ties, indeed, offered themselves to his apprehensions ; but these, he 

 trusted, might yield to an almost enthusiastic fondness for these 

 pursuits. Many errors and defects, he feared, might obtrude them- 

 selves on the eyes of the discerning critic ; but these he hoped might, 

 ^ 

 in some measure, be compensated for, by the peculiar information 



which would result, from the frequent examination of a tolerably 

 large and systematic cabinet, obtained from the museums of Mr* 

 Strange, Lord Donegal, M. Calonne, and of several other collectors. 



The kind encouragement of his scientific friends prompted him 

 to apply himself to the task ; but the doubts and hesitations of 

 those most in the habits of estimating the success of the offspring 

 of the press, almost induced him td relinquish his proposed inten-> 

 tion. His arguments in favour of the attempt, derived from the 

 circumstance of the publications on this subject being so very few, 

 were powerfully rebutted by the inference, that there were there- 

 fore but few readers ; and, consequently, but a small demand could 

 be expected. Partiality, however, to the project he had formed, 

 and a conviction that ample support might be obtained, were the 

 attention of the public fairly called to the wonders, which the study 

 of oryctology discovers, made him resolve on the attempt. 



But, aware of the small number of those who, at present, make 

 this science their study, he feared that a dry, strictly scientific, work 



