The T%£FACE, 



flamp, as being compofed by men not well verfed in defcribing of 

 Animals, containing only a ,s few general and ambiguous. notes, fb that. 

 one defcriptioawill fit divers Species, or two or three defcriptions lute 

 one and the fame • which muft needs occafion fuch miitakes as we men- 

 tioned of repeating the fame Bird two or three times for different kinds, 

 under divers Titles. Many fuch errors occur in Aldroyand, which the 

 Reader (hall find noted in this Work, and fome alfo in Gefmr, not- 

 withstanding his great skill and circurnfpection. Yet do we not pretend 

 to have difcovered and rectified all the mistakes and errors in thefe Au- 

 thors : There remain yet fundry defcriptions of this nature, which we 

 are doubtful of whether they be of Birds fpecifically distinct or no : Nor 

 do we fee any means left to refolve our felves, unlefs perchance by travel- 

 ling to thofe places, whence fuch defcriptions and titles were fent, where 

 we might probably learn what Birds the Inhabitants underfland by thole 

 names. 



Having acquainted the Reader with our principal aim in this Work, 

 which was to give certain Characteristic notes of the.feveral kinds, 

 accurately to defcribe each Species, and to reduce all to their proper 

 Gaffes or Genera : We fhall further add, that we have wholly omitted 

 what we find in other Authors concerning Homonymous and Synonymous 

 words, or the divers names of Birds, Hieroglyphics, Emblems, Morals, 

 Fables, <P refuges, or ought elfe appertaining to ViYmity, Ethics, Gram- 

 mar, or any fort of Humane Learning : And prefent him only with what 

 properly relates to their Natural Hiftory. Neither have we fcraped to- 

 gether whatever of this nature is any where extant, but have ufed choice, 

 and inferted only fuch particulars as our felves can warrant upon our 

 own knowledge and experience, or whereof we have aflurance by the 

 teflimony of good Authors, or fufficient Witneffes. And, becaufe what 

 is (freight doth both manifeft it felf, and alfo difcover what is croo- 

 ked, we contented our felves to put down only what we approve, 

 not thinking it neceffary to fpend time in confuting the contrary 

 error. 



Concerning the names of Birds we dicl not much trouble ourfelves, 

 there having been difputing enough about them long ago y but have for 

 the moft part followed Ge frier and JldroVundus, being unwilling to di- 

 sturb what is fetled, or dilpoffefs Names, that may for their ufe now 

 plead prefcription. For to what purpofe is it eternally to wrangle 

 about things, which certainly to determine is either abfolutely im- 

 poilible, or next door to it ? Efpecially feeing if by immenle labour it 

 might at laft be found out, by what Names every Species was known 

 to the Ancients, the advantage that would, thence accrue would no£ 

 countervail the painSi About the Phrafe and Style we were not very 

 felicitous, taking greater^ care to render the Senfe perfpicupus than the 

 Language ornate. 



But becaufe Mr^Willughby ( though {paring neither pains nor coft ) 

 could not procure, and eonfequently did not defcribe all forts of Birds ■ to 

 perfect the Work, I have added the Defcriptions and Hiftories of thofe 

 that were wanting, out of Gefner, Adroyandus, 'Bellomus, Marggrdv'ms, 

 QuJms, Hernandez, Pontius, Worfniws, and Tijo • difpofmg each kind, as 

 near as I could, in its proper place= Now 



