vi a 
PREFACE. 
speedily assume a dress adapted to the rigours of 
their situation. 
The short account here given to the public, is 
intended merely as a guide to those who are 
pleased to honour Mr Polito’s exhibition with 
their company, where he will give his visitors 
every information respecting the nature and ■ 
habits of the various animals, forming this col- 
lection. 
Here the inquisitive mind will be amply gra- 
tified, by the near inspection of animals, subdued • 
from their natural ferocity by familiar inter- 
course with man. The means used thus to tame' 
them, Mr Polito will give the most candid ac- 
count of, and he flatters himself that the public 
curiosity from these circumstances,' will receive 
the highest satisfaction. - 
Those who have been entertained by contem- 
plating the surprising -Curiosities of Nature as- 
sembled in this Valuable Collection, will now 
have an opportunity, not only of renewing the 
memory with objects which afforded them amuse- 
ments, but, with the assistance of this little trea- 
tise, will also be enabled to communicate to their - 
friends a portion of the delight they experienced; 
for next to the gratification of beholding what is 
beautiful or strange, is the pleasure of recoun- 
ting the wonders we have seen. 
Mr Polito is sorry to observe, that the cuts 
annexed are executed in so rude a style, as to 
convey but a faint idea of the animals they 
werejmtended to represent. 
