[ 1 
in South America. To explain this, I muft 
obferve, that I thought it would not be 
improper to juftify, by the commencement 
of my life, my manner of feeing, think- 
ing, and acling, which always will be 
agreeable to the tafte of the climate, and 
which, judged perhaps with fe verity, would 
not fail to difpleafe thofe obftinate minds 
who can never fuffer their prejudices to 
be deftroyed; or principles and cuftoms 
hitherto received to be attacked, without 
being out of temper. But in whatever 
manner my freedom in expreffing my 
thoughts, and even in pretending to cor- 
red; the errors of genius, may be confider- 
jpd, I think it of importance to let them 
Jcnow, that no private hatred, no envy, 
and no fecret difpleafure, can overbalance 
in my mind my regard to truth, which I 
cherifli above all things, and to which I 
have facrificed, upon more than one occa- 
Con, even my vanity. 
At the end of this work I fhall prefent 
the lovers of natural hiftory with a general 
defcription of all the individuals, quadru- 
pedes and birds, which I procured in my 
pxcurlions, and have now in my poffef- 
iion. 
