'■10 :-rii 



Man, always curious and inquisitive, and ever desirous 

 ot aoding to his useful knowledge, among other 

 sources of amusement and instruction, is naturally 

 led to contemplate and to inquire into the works of 

 Nature. He looks with grateful reverence upon 

 those vast families of created beings, which it has 

 pleased the Author of all things to place subordinate 

 to his wisdom and power : he examines, with wonder, 

 their formation; habits, and economy ; and hears, with 

 delight, the narrations of those who have sought after 

 the Natural Curiosities of distant countries. 



That this beautiful and inviting study may be faci- 

 litated, and that the whole of the productions and 

 inhabitants of this our globe may be arranged and 

 conveniently exhibited, systems have been invented, 

 reducing them to their several kingdoms, classes, 

 tribes, families, and individuals; with their names, 

 habitations, manners, economy, and appearance. 

 These have enjoyed their various degrees of repute 

 and excellence ; but the amazing comprehension, 

 learning, and labour, of the celebrated Sir Charles 

 Linne, has produced a system so clear and simple, 

 so compendious and accurate, that the lover of 

 Natural History may directly discover the name and 

 properties of whatever subject may fall in his way, or 

 he may choose to investigate. 



In systematic arrangement, the student has this 

 peculiar advantage, that by immediately arriving at 

 the name, the whole of its known qualities are at once 

 displayed to him; but without a systematic classifica- 

 tion, he wanders in obscurity and uncertainty, and 

 must collect the whole of its habits and peculiarities 

 before he can ascertain the individual he is examining?. 



