PREFACE. 243 
will afford more pleafure, as they are more ob« 
ferved; and therefore, i am not furprifed, that 
Peter the Great of Mufcovy did not think it be- 
neath his attention to endeavor to enliven his 
new feat of empire, by fending for colonies of 
them from other parts, as they were fcarce where 
he refided. 
I will finifli this digreflion with a refle&ion that 
occurs to me on the different fates of natural and 
religious augury. The firft was fimple, unattend- 
ed with any of thofe circumftances that are apt 
to roufe the paffions of man •, and therefore, tho* 
likely to prove ufeful, if purfued with proper di- 
ligence, fell into negledh The latter was com- 
plicated, applying itielf to fome of the ffrongeft 
paffions in man, and therefore, though unlikely 
to a ferious mind, to have the lead foundation in 
truth, or ever to be ufeful, was encouraged and 
adorned with all the pomp that a fuperftitious 
people could invent in honor of a flattering, and 
therefore favorite art. 
I fhall now come to fome points that more 
immediately relate to the following Calendars. 
1 . 1 have retained the Linnsean names of every 
plant, and animal in the Swedifh Calendar ; and 
have added the Englifh names to the plants taken 
from Ray’s Synopfls, and his hiffory, with no 
fmall trouble, as any one will eaflly believe who 
has done the like *. The numbers which follow 
the Englifh names refer to the above-mentioned 
books with an EL to diftinguiih the hiffory. The 
* This trouble we Aral! for the future be relieved from* 
when that accurate and fkilful bctanift, Mr. Hudfon, has pub- 
lished his Flora Anglica, which is novv in the prefs. 
R 2 
num- 
