ADVE K.T.IS.E MEN T. 
HIS Work was begun a great number of years paft, 
when the empire of Great Britain was entire, and pof- 
feffed the northern part of the New World with envied fplen- 
dor. At that period I formed a defign of collecting materials 
for a partial Hiftory of its Animals ; and with true pains, by 
various correfpondencies, made far greater progrefs in my plan 
than my moft fanguine expetations had framed. Above a 
century ago, an illuftrious predecefior in the line of Natural 
Hiftory, who as greatly exceeded me in abilities as he did in 
zeal, meditated a voyage to the New World, in purfuance of 
a fimilar defign. The gentleman alluded to was FRANCIs 
Wiriucusy, Efq; who died in 1672, on the point of put- 
ting his defign in execution. Emulous of fo illuftrious an 
example, I took up the object of his purfuit; but my many | 
relative duties forbade me from carrying it to the length con- 
ceived by that great and good man. What he would have per- 
formed, from an actual infpection in the native country of the 
feveral fubjects under confideration, I muft content myfelf to 
do, in a lefs perfect manner, from preferved fpecimens tran{mit- 
ted to me; and offer to the world their Natural Hiftory, taken 
from gentlemen or writers who have paid no fmall attention 
to their manners. 
Let me repeat, that this Work was defigned as a fketch of 
the Zoology of North America. Ithought I had a right to 
A the 
