( vi ) 



ftudy of Nature, as a great Science, mult, if not utterly impoffible, 

 be extremely difficult and embarraffing. Method and arrangement, 

 like the clew of Ariadne, ferve to lead the otherwife wandering mind 

 through the devious mazes of Nature's labyrinth. Hence, in all ages, 

 numerous attempts have been made to reduce the apparently endlefs 

 confufion of natural bodies, under fuch a fyftem of arrangement, 

 -defcription, and nomenclature, as might render the acquirement 

 of .thefe general views as eafy and as familiar as poffible. 



It is nt)t neceflary to give any comparative view of the merits of 

 'the different fyftems which have been devifed for anfwering this 

 ufeful purpofe ; as it will be readily granted, that the palm of excel- 

 lence has been almoft univerfally allowed, by the learned of every 

 country in Europe, to the arrangement of the great LiNNJEUS,as con- 

 tained in hisjuftly celebrated work the SyJlemaNaturae. To the genius 

 and induftry of that illuftrious Naturalift, the world is indebted for 

 the improvement of Natural Hiftory; and, to his indefatigable zeal, 

 and example, the aftonifhing progrefs which this branch of know- 

 ledge has lately made is principally owing. If not the father of the 

 fcience, he may juftly be held as its fecond founder ; and had he, 

 like Ariftotle, been aided by the power and riches of an Alexander, 

 it is hardly poffible to conceive to what degree of perfection our 

 knowledge of Nature might by this time have advanced. 



As his admirable work, which has already gone through thirteen 

 editions, is in the Latin language, it is fhut up from many who 

 might derive great pleafure and advantage, from profecuting the 

 ftudy of Nature. This tranflation, therefore, of a work of fuch ge- 

 neral importance, and which contains fo much interefting informa- 

 tion, will not, it is hoped, be deemed an unprofitable employment. 

 -By this publication, a vafl. and fertile field of fcience will be opened 

 io many who are now precluded from the cultivation of Natural 



Hiftory, 



