PREFACE. 



ix 



some instances where I have not been able to reduce 

 them to those that are known, I have invented new, 

 in conformity to his system. That author's mode of" 

 classification I have not, however, pursued, as it ap- 

 peared to me incompatible with the plan of my work. 

 Though I have followed the system of that cele- 

 brated Swedish naturalist, it is not from a convic- 

 tion of its superiority to that of any other, but be- 

 cause it has been of late so generally adopted; for 

 great as is the respect which I feel for that learned 

 writer, I cannot always approve of his nomen- 

 clature, and should have preferred pursuing the 

 system of Wallerius and Bomare in mineralogy, 

 that of Tournefort in botany, and of Brisson in zoo- 

 logy, as I think them to be more simple and better 

 Jinown to the world in general. 



In describing objects of natural history I have 

 avoided the use of technical terms, as being difficult 

 to be understood by those not conversant with that 

 study ; but for the gratification of such as are fami- 

 liar with that science, I have given, at the bottom of 

 the page, the Linn^an characters in Latin, both of 

 the known species, and of those that are new, which 

 I have discovered.^ My descriptions will, for the 

 most part, be found to be short, and such as merely 

 furnish the essential character of the species. The 

 common characteristics of the genus Î have passed 

 pver intentionally, and it will be found that the same 



* It has been thought advisable îîl this version to make seme va^ 

 riation in this resfiect^ and, conformably thereto^ the technical üV- 

 scriptions %uiU be found at the end of the voiumcy arranged nn- 

 der their resp.ective heads,. ...AmQY. Trans. 



