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 

 ei 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 Phys. Theol. Book XI. c* 24. 



