4 
have at least a tendency, and will, it is hoped, be found 
to contribute not a little to the bringing into one view, 
faithful and elegant representations of that infinite varie- 
ty of shells now distributed in many celebrated cabinets 
of Europe ; to the illustration of all those beautiful and 
curious species of insects found in England, of which 
the greater part are either non-descripts, or their figures 
hitherto unpublished ; and lastly, and principally, to the 
founding an Academy of Painters of Natural Elistory, 
working on principles which give a transparency, with 
richness of colours, and a facility of execution, that are 
entirely new; and altogether (it is presumed) redound- 
ing to national credit and honour. 
The present volume, therefore, and the subsequent 
ones which aie to appear, have, in the Author’s mind, 
been long intended in the present form to be laid before 
the Public, and to accomplish this purpose in its fullest 
extent, every endeavour has been exerted lor several 
years past, to assemble as far as possible all the necessary 
objects: the representations of the whole, with a very 
