XVI 
PREFACE. 
But I am not over fond of that title ; and 
shall be extremely well pleased, and think 
myself very happy, if I can but deserve the 
name of a good compiler, and supply my 
readers with a tolerable history, who will 
not be over solicitous to inquire what 
hand it comes from, provided they are but 
pleased with it.” If so celebrated and ex- 
cellent a writer as Rollin could preface his 
Antient History with this candid confession, 
it would surely be great presumption in 
us to consider our humble undertaking as 
worthy a better title. 
We have endeavoured to render our de- 
scriptions familiar to every one, and oc- 
casionally to enliven them with anecdotes 
illustrative of the manners and habits of 
the different animals. We are well aware 
that among these there are some which 
either from their want of importance, or 
from having been repeated before, we might 
have dispensed with ; but it was difficult to 
draw the line, especially as we rather pro- 
