THE 
PREFACE. 
A, to the following Catalogue, I have fome things to fay, of the Or- 
der ', Names , Dejcriptions, Figures, and Ujes of Particulars^ 
and the Quotations I have made therein. 
As to the fi'rji, Ilik§ not the reafon which Aldrovandus gives 
for his beginning the Hijiory of Quadrupeds with the Horfe $ Quod pra2- 
cipuam nobis utilitatem prasbeat. Being better placed according to the de- 
grees of their Approximation, to Humane Shape ', and one to another : and 
fo other Things, according to their Nature. Much left flwuld 1 chooje, 
with Ge(her> to go by the Alphabet. The very Scale of the Creatures, is a 
matter of high peculation. 
As to the Names, where they were wanting, ( which in our own Lan- 
guage were many ) I have taken leave to give them. But have generally re- 
teind them, where I have found them all-ready given. Although, from fome 
diflinguijl)ing Note left convenient 5 as the Colour is , than the Figure. 
And fometimes very Improper, as Concha Perfica , and the like, from the 
Place. For it often falls out, that the fame Thing breeds in many Places. 
But there is no Natural Reafon, why it foould be called by one, rather than 
another. So that the Names of Things fhould be always taken fiom fome- 
thing more obfervably declarative of their Form, or Nature. The doing of 
yvhich,wouId much facilitate and Improve the Knowledge of them many ways. 
For fo, every Name were a fhort Definition. Where as if Words are con- 
fus'd, little elje can be dijiin&ly learn d. Tet I tool\ it not to be my "part, 
aUuaUy to reform this matter ? unleflhad been writing an Univerfal Hillo- 
ry of Nature. 
In the Dejcriptions, I have taken care 5 Firff, to reUifie the mijiakes of 
fuch as are given its by other Hands. Secondly, not to Iranfcribe any 5 as 
is too commonly done : but having noted fomething more efpecial therein, to 
refer to the Author. Thirdly, where there is no Defcription at all, or that 
is too JI)ort, or the faults therein many, to give one at large. For the doing 
of all which, what the trouble of comparing Books together hath been, I fay 
with Sleydan in another Cafe, P&ft Deum Immortalem Ipfe novi. 
In the Dejcriptions given, I have obferved, with the Figures of Things, 
alfo their Colours^ fo far as I could, unlefi I had viex»d them hiving, and 
Frefh. And have added their juft Meafitres. Much negleUed by Writers 
of Natural Hijiory. 
If any objeffi againji their length »• perhaps they have not fo well considered 
the necejjity hereof, for the cleer and evident dijiin&ion of the feveral Kinds 
und Species, in fo great a variety of Things known in the World. And wherein 
alfe regard is to be had, to all that after Ages may difcover, or have occafion 
to enquire after. The Curiofity and Diligence of Pliny, is highly to be com- 
mended. Tet he is fo brief, that his Works are rather a Nomenclature, 
than a Hijiory : which perhaps might be more intelligible to the Age hs lived 
