( vi) 



The other clafTes of Sea-animals, and various kinds of Fifties, 

 might perhaps have been fomething morecompleat in this work ; 

 but I have compared it with more accurate and particular ac- 

 counts than I have been able with certainty to give, from my 

 own, or my correfpondents experience. However, I have been 

 very exacl: and careful in obferving thofe limits 5 and what 

 extends beyond them I don't affirm for a certainty. Of Birds 

 and Quadrupeds there are found here alfb fuch forts, as in 

 other European countries are little, or hardly known; and 

 therefore I have been more prolix in the defcription of them. 

 As for the account of the rational inhabitants of Norway, I 

 did not at firft intend to touch upon it ; but, upon further 

 conlideration, I found nothing in it that was inconfiftent with the 

 plan of a Natural Hiftory. For this reafon I have, in the two 

 laft chapters, collected as many particulars, as might be fuf- 

 ficient to give the reader fome idea of the genius and qualities 

 of the Norvegian nation. 



I have one thing to obferve in this place with regard to a 

 literary article mentioned in my preface to the firft part of 

 this work : I there reckoned the antient treatife, called Specu- 

 lum Regale, amongft the books that are loft, and lamented, 

 the want of intelligence that might have been collected from 

 it • but I have been fince informed, with the greateft pleafure, 

 to the contrary, in a letter from the honourable Mr. Luxdorph, 

 councellor of ftate, dated the 2,0th of January laft. I find like- 

 wife, (tho' too late) that a copy of that antient manufcript is to 

 be found in the univerfity- library at Copenhagen, among many 

 other manufcripts given to the university by the late profelTor 

 Arnas Magnseus ; a catalogue of whofe donations deferves to be 

 printed, at leaft, for the information of foreigners and others. 



I am further informed in that learned gentleman's letter, 

 that the old notion of the Speculum Regale being written by 

 the wife and valiant king Sverre, or at leaft by his order, and 

 confequently in his time, is entirely without foundation : for 

 Mr Luxdorph obferves that it was written about the latter end 



of 



