220 CHAPTER 44. 
more extended and magnificent fcale, than 
the narrow bounds of his native country 
exhibited. It is but too true, that the world 
at large will for ever treat with ridicule and 
difdain that man, who, thus deferring the 
paths that lead to riches, to preferment, 
or to honour, gives himfelf up to what are 
commonly deemed unimportant aqd trifling 
occupations. Few will give him credit for 
that fecrec fuisfadion, for that inexhaufti- 
ble pleafurc, which the inveftigation of na- 
ture, in all her objeds, inceflantiy holds 
forth to his mind 5 or believe, that fuch 
employmient can poffibly compenfate for the 
foiid treafares of gain, 
Mark Catesby was born about the lat- 
ter end of 1 679, or the beginning of the 
next year. He acquaints u« himfelf, that 
he had very early a propeniity to the ftudy 
of nature , and that his wifli for higher 
gratifications in this way, firfl: led him to 
London^ which he emphatically ftiles *^ the 
center of fcience and afterwards impelled 
him to feek further fources, in diftant parts 
pf the globe. The refidence of fom.e re- 
lations 
