(vi) 



The other claffes of Sea-animals, and various kinds of Fifties., 

 might perhaps have been fomething more compleat 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 ; 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 

 consideration, 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 Nor vegian 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. Regaley 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 20th 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 univerfity by the late profeflbr 

 Arnas Magraeus ; a catalogue df 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 



