Si 
PREFACE. 
cavils raifed againft it, or criticifms made 
upon it. I find too that it has circulated 
into moft parts of Europe ; for there has 
not been any Natural Hiflory of Animals 
publifhed in foreign parts, within thefe 
eight or ten years paft, but what has 
made feveral quotations from it. I had 
determined, when my Hiftory. of Birds 
was finifhed, not to have published any 
thing farther, as I advanced in years' and 
infirmities ; but, when I found that the 
favours of my beffc friends fupplied me 
with many new and very curious fubje<5ts, 
and that they were ail folicitous to fee 
figures of them brought to light, I could 
not reafonably withfiand their importu- 
nity: on which account, in the fpace of 
thefe lafl nine years, I have engraved an 
hundred copper- plates, whereon are figured 
near two hundred different fubjedts; and, 
as I owe thefe to the goodnefs and free 
generofity of my friends, I embrace this 
opportunity to return them publickly, as 
I ought, my grateful acknowledgments and 
thanks. 
During the time of the publication of 
my Hiftory of Birds, I had the great ho- 
nour, happinefs, and pleafure of being 
patronized by four Gentlemen, who were, 
perhaps, the greatefi; promoters of learn- 
ing, fcience, and arts, of any in the prefent 
age ; bur, alas ! inexorable death has de- 
prived me of them all in a very fhort 
time. — The fidt of thefe Gentlemen was 
the late Moft Noble Duke of Richmond: 
noble in his lineage and defeent from the 
Royal houfe of thefe kingdoms, but ffill 
more noble and great from the innate 
magnificence, generofity, and goodnefs off 
his foul. Though, by his high offices, his 
time was taken up by the important af- 
fairs of the publick, yet his doors were 
always open to men of learning, fcicnce, 
and ingenuity. 
confiderables . Je vois oujji que cet outrage 
seji ripandu dans prefque toute V Europe ; 
car il ny a point d'Hfioire Naturelle des 
AnimauXy quon ait pabliee depuis huit ou 
dix ansy dans les pays etrangers, ou il fie fe 
troupe cite plufieurs fois . Lorfque mott 
Hijloire des Oijeaux fut achevee , j'avois re- 
join de ne plus rien publiery vu que favan - 
pis en dge y et que les infirmites me furve- 
noient y maisy v oyant que mes amis avoient 
la bonte de me jour nir de nouveaux jujets 
tres curieuXy et quils etoient j'ort emprejjes 
d'en voir paroitre des jigureSy je ne pus 
raifonnabkment me refujer d lew importu - 
nit l : j'ai dohe grave y durant ces neuj der- 
nieres annecSy cent planches y oil il y a pres 
de deux cents different s fujets reprefentes ; 
ety comme j'en J'uis redevable d la bonte et 
d la generofite de mes amis , je faifis cette 
occajion pour leur cn jaire y comme je le dots, 
mes tres humbles remer dements y et leur en 
temaigner ma jujle reconno ffance . 
Durant la publication de mon Hijloire 
des Oijeaux, je jus affez heureux pour etre 
honore de la proteBion de quatre grands 
homines y qui etoient, pent- etre, les plus zeles 
promoteurs des fciences et des arts , quit y 
cut dans ce feck ; mais, helas ! V inexorable 
mart me les a tons enlcves dans tin tres court 
efpace. — Le premier de ces grands P erf on - 
nages doit feu I'lllufire Due de Richeniont y 
noble dans fin extraB'ion y puifquil dejeendoi £ 
de la m a ijbn Roy ale de ces royaumesy mats 
encore plus noble et plus grand par les fen- 
ti meats de bonte \ de generofite y et de magnify 
cence y qiiil avoit dans lame. Fjuoique les 
pofies eminent s y dont il etoit revetu, Fobli - 
geafient d dormer fon temps aux affaires les 
plus imp 
pas diet 
genie et 
or t antes de Fetat, fa porte ne la ffoit 
re toujours ouverte aux perjonnes de 
de fcavoir , 
