X 
PREFACE. 
by me, I have, in my deferiptions of 
fuch things as have been defcribed by 
other authors, and where my attempt was 
only an amendment, given the names of 
fuch authors, fo far as my endeavours 
could procure them ; but, if I have 
milled any ancient writers who have 
treated on the fame fubjeds with me, my 
figures and deferiptions are nevertheless 
absolutely new. Where accurate figures 
are given, much pains may be fpared in 
verbal deferiptions, by referring to the 
figures, which lineally deferibe the mi- 
nuted: parts of them, and fuch as would 
be very doubtfully underftood by words 
only : indeed, the figures in this work 
cannot be deemed perfect without their 
deferiptions, and the deferiptions are 
nothing without the figures; for they 
are often filent as to the general lhape, 
proportion of parts, number of toes, 
&c. which are fully exprefied in the 
figures. In illuminated works of this 
kind, the value of the performance de- 
pends on the fkill, diligence, and care of 
the author ; for there is a very great dif- 
ficulty, nay even an impoflibility, precifely 
to exprefs by words all the different de- 
grees, (hades, and mixtures of colours, fo 
as exadly to convey your ideas to others : 
this can be done no other way but by 
giving the colours themfelves. The 
prints through this work, when truly il- 
luminated, may be confidered as a book 
legible to people of all nations and lan- 
guages, whether learned or illiterate : real 
reprefentations of animals, &c.. properly 
delineated and coloured, are characters 
that all nations are taught by nature to 
underftand ; and, in many refpedts, good 
figures from nature furpafs the bell verbal 
deferiptions. In the courfe of my works, 
I have generally had the advantage of 
working from real nature, many, of my 
refie. A regard des deferiptions que fat 
faites de chofes> qui avoient deja ete decrites 
par d'autres auteurs , et oil je ne me fuis 
p?~opofe que de perjedtionner , jai donne ex - 
aftement les noms de ces auteurs , autant qiiil 
a ete dans mon pouvoir de les deconvrir ; 
mais } Ji jai obmis quelquancien auteur , qui 
ait traite les mimes Jujets que moi, mes 
figures et mes deferiptions ne laiffent pas 
d'etre tout-afait nouvelles . Quand on donne 
des figures tres exaftes, on pent separgner 
bien de la peine a Pegard des deferiptions , 
en renvoyant aux figures , qui expriment li- 
nealement les moindres parties , telle s que des 
mots ne ferotent quindiquer tres obfeure - 
merit: en effete les figures de cet ouvrage 
ne peuvent itre reputees parfaites fans leurs 
deferiptions , et les deferiptions font tres pen 
de chofe fans les figures ; car fouvent elles 
ne difent nen quant a la faille generaky la 
proportion des parties , k nombre des doigts, 
©V. que Ion trouve pleinement exprimes dam 
les figures . Dans des ouvrages enlumines 
de cette forte , le prix de l* execution depend 
de rhabiktdy de la diligence y et des foins de 
1' auteur ; car il y a une tres grande diffi- 
cult e, pour ne pas dire une impoffibiltti, d 
exprimer precifement par des mots y tous les 
differents degres, les nuances , et les melanges 
des couleursy de man i ire d tranfmettre ex - 
attement vos idees aux autres : cela ne fe. 
pent fair e quen donnant les couleurs mimes . 
Les planches de cet ouvrage exaftement en- 
luminees peuvent fe confidercr comme un 
HvrCy que les perfonnes de toute langue et 
de toute nation peuvent lire y tant les fia- 
vants que les ignorants : des reprefentations 
vraies d'animauXy &c. bien dejjineesy et bien 
colorieesy font des cara£lires } que la nature 
a appris d tous les peoples d entendre ; et de 
bonnes figurcs t faites. d'apres naturey fur- 
paffent infini menty pour ainfi dire y les meil - 
leuxes deferiptions ver bales. Dans le cours 
de mes oeuvres, fai eu en gineral Pavantage 
