X 



PREFACE. 



This is a general view of the natural 

 history of our own country ; why then 

 should we neglect inquiring into the va- 

 rious benefits that result from these in- 

 stances of the wisdom of our Creator, 

 which his divine munificence has so libe- 

 rally, and so immediately placed before 

 us? Such a neglect is certainly highly to 

 be blamed, for (to express ourselves in the 

 words of an eminent writer) " the Creator 

 did not bestow so much curiosity, and 

 workmanship on his creatures, to be 

 looked on with a careless incurious eye, 

 especially to have them slighted or con- 

 temned ; but to be admired by the 

 rational part of the world, to magnify 

 his own power to all the world, and the 

 ages thereof; and since the works of the 

 creation are all of them so many de- 

 monstrations of the infinite wisdom and 

 power of God, they may serve to us, as 

 so many arguments exciting us to a con- 

 stant fear of the Deity, and a steady and 

 hearty obedience to all his laws/'* 



* Derham's Phvs. Theol. Book XI. c. 24. 



