[ 3 ] 



Yhofe whofe exiftence was only pro- 

 bable ? 



It is the opinion ofmoft Theologifts 

 and Philofophers, that the two branches 

 of natural hiflory, zoology and botany, 

 were among the primar y ftudies of our 

 firft parents. Botany, if we except 

 the times of barbarifm,has every where 

 been cultivated ; but zoology in general 

 has lain almofr. neglected, even to our 

 time; that part more particu-larly which 

 relates to infedts, has, for reafbns we 

 fhall prefently mention, been defpifed 

 and ill treated. As this fcience is too 

 extenfive to be fully difplayed by any 

 one perfon, my intention is to propole 

 it in asfhort a manner as pofiible, by 

 running through its principal heads r 

 Infects exceed other terrefMal animals 

 in number of individuals and fpecies, 

 and taken alltogether,conftitufe alarger 

 B 2 bulk» 



