PREFACE. 



T may.B'e proper to inform the Purchafers of the Catalogue, and the Public in 

 *■ general. That there is no one Article contained In it but was a Part of 

 the Genuine Collection of the late Noble Pofleflbr, Margaret Cavendijhf 

 Duchefs Dowager of Portland. Nothing is foifted into it from the Cabinets of 

 others ; but every Subje£l here recorded came into her PofTeffion, either by In-- 

 heritance, the Affi{lance of thofe who were honored with her Friendfhip, or by- 

 her own Purchafe and Induftry. And' how diligent have been her Enquiries 

 into Natural Knowledge and the Polite Arts, as well as fuccefsful her En- 

 deavours to encreafc the Stores of them, the following Catalogue will, in a 

 great Meafure, demonftrate. In the Articles of Virtu it contains no inconfider- 

 able Part of her moft Valuable Collection ; but in Natural Hijiory every Sub - 

 je£l is inferted fhe had with fo much Pains and Treafure accumulated. And" 

 here it will appear, that all the Three Kingdoms of Nature, the Animal^- 

 Vegetable^ and Fojfil, were comprehended in her Refearches. In all of thefe flie' 

 took infinite Pleafure and Delight ; but in none of them is her Cabinet more 

 richly ftored than in that durable and beautiful Part of the Firjl^ named Con- 

 ehology. In this Branch of Nauxre's Works, no Colle<SIon in Europe can equal 

 that of her Grace's in Number and Variety. To give fome Idea of its great 

 Extent, it may be remarked, that the celebrated who had ftudicd the 



Subject, and methodized the Materials of it, has not defcribed One Fourth Part 

 ©f the Objefts contained in the Mufeum now ofFeied to the Public. It was 

 indeed in the Intention of the enlightened Pofieffor to have Irad every unkncivn 

 Species defcribed and publifhed to the V/orld ; but it pleafed God to cut fhort 

 theDefign, not only by the Death of the ingenious Naturalift employed by her 

 for that Purpofe * ; but, in a fliort Time afterwards, to the great and irreparable 

 Lofs of Science, by her oiun alfo. Had her Life been continued a few 

 Years longer, it is poffibie that every Subjeft in this Catalogue would Yavc 

 been properly defcribed and characlerifed ; but in the prefent Mazes ct Science,- 

 all that could be done by the Compiler was only to give in general the clalTical 



or popular Names to fuch Articles as v,-ere known to have anv, ?.nd to leave 



