Giaseatl. EEN GEIS HE R. 
lers, either on claffic or any other ground, have 
not been more affiduous in noting the zoology of 
thofe countries, which the antients have celebrated 
for their productions: for, from thofe who have 
attended to that branch of natural knowledge, we 
have been able to develope the meaning of the old 
naturalifts ; and fettle with precifion fome few of 
the animals of the antients. 
Italy, a country crowded with travellers of all 
nations, hath not furnifhed a fingle writer on claffi- 
cal zoology. The Ea has been more fortunate: 
Belon, the firft voyager who made remarks in na-. 
tural hiftory during his travels, mentions many of 
the animals of the places he vifited, and may be 
very ufeful to afcertain thofe of Ariftotle, efpeci- 
ally as he has given their modern Greek names. 
Our countryman, Dr. Rufel, enumerates thofe of 
Syria. Dr. Haffelquift has made fome additions to 
the ornithology of Evypt: but all thefe fall fhort 
of the merits of that moft learned and inquifitive 
traveller, Dr. Shaw; who with unparalleled learn- 
ing and ingenuity, has left behind him the moft 
fatistactory, and the moft beautiful comments on 
the animals of the antients, particularly thofe men- 
tioned in HOLY writ, or what relates to the Zgyp- 
tian mythology: fuch as do honor to our country, 
and we flatter ourfelves will prove incentives to 
other travellers, to complete what muft prove fu- 
perior to any one genius, be it ever fo great : from 
fuch we may be fupplied with the means of illuf- 
| 5S 3 trating 
253 
