THE 
PREFACE. 
S to the following Catalogue, I have fime things to fay, of the Or* 
der, Names, Defcriptions, Figures, and Ufes of Particulars^ 
and the Quotations I have made therein. 
As to the firfi, Ilikg not the reafon which Aldrovandus gives 
for his beginning the Hiflory of Quadrupeds with the Horfe 3 Quod prse- 
cipuam nobis utilitatem prasbeat. Being better placed according to the de- 
grees of their Approximation, to Humane Shape, and one to another : and 
Jo other Things, according to their Nature. Much left JJjould 1 chooje^ 
with Gefher^ 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 1 have found them all-ready given. Although, from fome 
dijlinguifiing 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 fljould be called by one % rather than 
another. So that the Names of Things fhould be always taken from fome- 
thing more obfervably declarative of their Form, or Nature. The doing of 
7vhich,would much facilitate and Improve the Knowledge of them many ways. 
For fo, every Name were a JJjOrt Definition. Where as if Words are con- 
fused, little elfe can be dijlin&ly learn d. Tet I too\ it not to be my part, 
aUually to reform this matter ? unleft I had been writing an Univcrfd Hi5lo~ 
ry of Nature. 
In the Defcriptions, I have taken care $ Fir St, to re&ifie the mijlakes of 
fuch as are given m by other Hands. Secondly, not to Iranfcribe any j as 
is too commonly done : but having noted fomething more ejfrecial therein, to 
refer to the Author. Thirdly, where there is no Defcription at all, or that 
is too flwrt, 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, Poll: Deum Immortalem Ipfe novi. 
In the Defcriptions given, I have obferved, with the Figures of Things^, 
alfo their Colours 5 fo far as I could, unleft I had view'd them Living, and 
Frefi. And have added their jujl Meajures. Much negle&ed by V/riters 
of Natural Hiflory. 
If any objetf againjl their length : perhaps they have not fo well confidered 
the necejjity hereof, for the cleer and evident difhinBion of the fever al Kinds 
and Species Jn fo great a variety of Things known in the World. And wherein 
alfo regard is to be had, to all that after Ages may di [cover, or have occaflon 
to enquire after. The Curiofity and Diligence of Pliny, is highly to be com' 
mended, let he is fo brief, that his Works are rather a Nomenclature, 
than a Hiflory: which perhaps might be more intelligible to the Age he lived 
in$ 
