PREFACE. 



THE attention of naturalists was early direct- 

 ed to the investigation of the fossil organic re- 

 mains so generally and abundantly distributed 

 throughout the strata of which the crust of the 

 earth is composed. It is not, as some writers 

 now imagine, entirely a modern study ; for even 

 so early as the time of Leibnitz, we find that 

 philosopher drawing and describing fossil bones. 

 After this period it continued to interest indivi- 

 duals, and engage the particular attention of 

 societies and academies. The Royal Society 

 of London, by the Memoirs of Sloane, Collin- 

 son ? Lister, Derham, Baker, Grew, Hunter, Ja- 

 cobs, Plott, Camper, and many others, afforded 

 satisfactory proofs of the importance attached 



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