XIV 
> 
PREFACE. 
hut there bemg no certain Marks to pew what things in Nature were 
called by thoje Nantes^ we have now wholly lojl them^ or take different 
things for them^ or are in difpute about the^n ; therefore Authors^ 
Naturalifis efpecially^ pould confulty firfl of ally the outward Forms of 
things in order farther to explain them by Defcriptions and other Marks ; 
and deliver them down to Pofierityy fo as to free themy fo far as huma?i 
Reafon is capable ofy from the Loffes a?id Injuries they may fuflain from 
T'ime. In defer ibing natural Fhrngs nothing ought to be omittedy that is 
any way remarkabhy and may fix and eflablip the CharaEier of the thin(T 
defcribedy fo as plainly to difimguifij it from all other things : This may 
be done without following the mmute Steps of fome Authorsy who have 
wrote large Books on fingle Birds or PlantSy for long Defcriptions lead 
the Mind into Mazes and Co?tfufio7iy and tire rather than infiruB. On the 
other hand too brief Defcriptions pould be avoided \ for very often thefe are 
found to confifl only of fuch general Forms and Colourings that are com-- 
mon to many things of the fame GenuSy with the thing fo briefly defcribedy 
which makes the Defeription uncertainy or rather no natural Defeription 
at all If Naturalifis would obferve this medimuy and fludy a plain 
comprehenfive LanguagCy and well expreffng the Things treated of they 
might graduallyy by making the Study both ufeful and pleafanty bring 
many into the love of Natural Hifioryy who ttow defpife it, 
I know there are fome Gentlemeny that put the Ter 7ns of mean and 
little upon fuch Sciences or Studies that they themf elves have 7 W Tafte for-y 
and others would 7nake them ufelefs by calling thetn mere Speculatmts, 
Natural Hifiory has been particularly afpe7fed arid treated in this man- 
ner by the Fnetniei to all KnowledgCy but fuch as brings with it mmie- 
diate Profit or fenfual Pleafure : But if thefe Ge?ulemen will look back a 
litthy they will find that Men as greaty as wife attd magnanbnousy at 
kafi as thefnfelveSy in all AgeSy have bufied thetnf elves in the Difeoveries 
and Knowledge of Nature, King Soloman is a great Exatnple in this 
mattery who was hitnfelf a natural Hifioria?^ and pef^haps had pene- 
trated farther into Nature than any one has do?te fmee, Alexander 
the Great was retnarkable for encouraging all the fine ArtSy as well 
7iatural Hifiory as other LiteraturCy without which his Metnory could 
not have fubfified till this Tune, But to C 07 ?u fiearer our ow?i Titnesy 
Lewis 
