Vlll 



fon and Mr. Pennant have diffused such a degree 

 of information on these subjects, that it does not 

 seem an easy task to improve upon their plan 

 otherwise than by the introduction of the Linnaean 

 method of arrangement, the rectification of errors 

 relative to synonyms, the addition of proper spe- 

 cific characters, and the introduction of new 

 species ; more particularly those which have been 

 lately introduced to the knowledge of European 

 naturalists from the vast island of Australasia or 

 New Holland, and which seem to exceed in sin- 

 gularity of form and character those of every 

 other region of the globe. 



Of the generic and specific characters, but more 

 particularly the latter, it should be observed, that 

 implicit faith is not always to be placed in them. 

 They are highly useful in a general view, but 

 should merely be regarded in that light, and can- 

 not be considered as in every instance strictly 

 and absolutely exact. It is farther to be observed, 

 that the English specific characters in the present 

 work are commonly so rendered as to be some- 

 what fuller or more particular than the Latin ; 

 from which it will also be perceived, that they oc- 

 casionally vary a little. This was necessary, in 

 order to accommodate them to the purpose of ge- 

 neral readers. 



With respect to figures, those highly import- 

 ant accompaniments to a work of this kind, no 

 care has been spared to give such as convey the 

 clearest and most accurate ideas of the animals 

 themselves. Where Buffon's figures were judged 



