ADVERTISEMENT. 



It was the original purpofe of this work to gratify the lovers of Natural 

 Hiftory, and the admirers of the fine arts, with a number of pidturefque 

 reprefentations of the moft interelting fubje&s in the clafs of Quadrupeds; 

 accompanied with fuch a written account of each, as might convey both 

 entertainment and inftrudlion. The proprietors had the fatisfadtion to find 

 that the numbers, as they fucceflively appeared, obtained general approbation, 

 both with refpecl to the execution of the artift, and the compolition of the 

 writer: they were therefore induced to proceed fo far, that almolt all the 

 genera of Quadrupeds have had at lealt one reprefentative. The defign was 

 nearly brought to a conclufion, when the death of the gentleman who 

 feledled the fubje&s and wrote the defcriptions occafioned a fulpenfion of 

 its progrefs. It is now prefented to the public in a collective form, provided 

 with means for a lyliematic arrangement. The method adopted by the 

 compiler was that of Mr. Pennant in his Hiftory of Quadrupeds, which, 

 therefore, takes the lead ; but for the ufe of thofe who may prefer the 

 Linnaean arrangement, it has been added, according to the plan followed by 

 Br. Shaw in his valuable work on the Mammalia. 



Concerning thefe different methods, it may be remarked, that the clafe 

 of Quadrupeds being the leafl numerous in the animal creation, and the bell 

 known from common obfervation, there is lefs neceflity for fubjecUng it to 



