f: v-J-: 
THE 
A U T H O R’s 
PREFACE, 
A S former ages principally encouraged 
philological and antiquarian enquiries ^ 
this prefeht age> at leaft in Sweden, favours 
the ftudy of Natural Hiftory. 
Such changes muft be afcribed to geniules^' 
Ivho uhderrtand how to make thofe fcienceS;^ 
which they have chofe for their principal ftudy, 
agreeable to the Public ; and which Sciences, 
being in general ufeful to the whole com- 
munity, every individual thereof can reap 
fome advantage from it, and thereby gratify 
that felf-love implanted in the breaft of all 
mankind in the purfuit of them. 
When the, pride of a nation is flattered v/ith 
the vain glory of being of great antiquity, the 
author of fuch an opinion is always favoured ; 
and every little circumftance conducive to fur^ 
tber confirm it, is carefully recolleded and noted. 
Thus when the fubjefts of the creation are re- 
a 3 prefented 
