XIV 



The A U T H O R's PREFACE. 



ticulturas Norvegica, Lochftor's Diff. de Medicamentis Norvegiaa 

 fufficientibus, Daffe's Defcription of Nordland, &c. 



The lofs of the manufcript hiftory of the beafts of Norway, 

 by the above-mentioned Mr. Peter Nicholas Undal, is exceedingly 

 to be lamented ; it happened in this manner. The author had 

 tranfmitted his work to his intimate friend Dr. Worm, that be- 

 fore it was committed to the prefs, it might undergo the revifal 

 of that confummate naturalift f . With him it remained till his 

 death, when it fell into the hands of Dr. Thomas Bartholin, who 

 carried it to his feat at Hagefted in Silland, where, together with 

 many other valuable books and manufcripts, it was unfortunately 

 burnt. Undal, page 83 of his Chorography, mentions another 

 book, called Speculum Regale, to which he appeals for what is 

 faid concerning a hazle ftick being petrified in Birkedal morals, 

 in Sundmoer, from whence I conclude, this book muft have 

 turned upon natural hiftory ; but as probably it was likewife a 

 manufcript, it was a great pity that the public was not benefited 

 by it, before it was loft, as is unqueftionably the cafe. But a 

 greater calamity to the literary world, was the conflagration 

 which happened 1734, in the city of Chriftianfand, which de- 

 ftroyed that invaluable affortment of collections for a natural hif- 

 tory of Norway, in which Mr. Jens Spidberg, an eccleftaftic of 

 great eminence there, had with indefatigable application fpent 

 many years. He was a man confummately accomplifhed for fo 

 great an undertaking, as appears from the other monuments ex- 

 tant of his genius, which difplay a Angular penetration and judg- 

 ment, with an infinite compafs of learning, efpecially in phyfics 

 and mathematics. I fhall here quote a paftage from a letter, with 

 which he favoured me, dated Dec. 10, 1750, concerning . his 

 defign, which he relinquifhed after the unfortunate lofs of his 

 manufcripts and library. I fhould not have troubled the reader 



f This, however, from the following mention made of it, by the faid Mr. Worm. 1 

 does not appear to have been a comprehenfive or finifhed work : Petri Undalini frag- 

 menta hiftorise animalium Norv. MSS. quae penes me funt. Tr. de Mure Norveg. 



P^ 3- . t 



2 with 



