p U E F A € E. 
XIII 
cannot bear, andfindfiuch Food as is natural to them. But ma ny 'would make Sleepers of 
them, and fay they retire to holes under Ground, and in hollow Frees, &c. and that they 
are fo fat they cannot fly far at the times they difappear, which Fatnefs I take rather 
for a providental Provifion, to enable them to take a flight of many Days without being 
quite exhaufled and [pent. A farther Reafon to me, that our Bummer-Birds who dfappear 
are not Sleepers, is, that no fuch Jleeping Birds have at any time been found, and all the ■_ 
reports of thefe things are fo uncertain, that no fiber Man can at all depend on them ; 
Id id they really creep into holes as is reported, it would be certainly known, and not remain, 
as it does, a very doubtful Matter ; for why fhould they not be daily foundJleeping, as are 
Dormice, by Wood-men and Country People, fince many of the Juppefid Sleepers are found 
awake in much greater Numbers. I believe indeed that the InftinB of thefe Birds is not Jo 
abfolutely certain, as to prevent them from being fometimesfurprifed by a very cold wet Au¬ 
tumn : In fuch a cafe I believe fome Flocks of Swallows have loft their PaJJ'age, and have 
been conftraind through Weaknefs to Jhelter themfelves in holes where they have perijhed. 
Natural Hiflory cannot in any degree be perfeB without Figures ; therefore I think we 
Jhould promote Drawing, in all fuch young People who feem to have a liking to it ; no one 
need think it an Amufement beneath his Dignity, fince our prefent Royal Family and many 
of the young Nobility have been inflruBed in that Art. Fhe World may perhaps think I 
fay this in order to promote myfelf', becaufe hitherto I have taught young Gentlemen and 
Ladies to draw', but to take away fuch Imputation, I purpofe to decline any thing of that 
fort which may hereafter offer. Every one who confults antient Authors, is very fenflble of 
their Deficiencies in the want of Figures; for many things are mention'd by a bare Name 
without any Defcription or Figure, and great phyfical Virtues and other Ufes are attributed 
to fome of thefe things; but their being no certain Marks to Jhew what things in Nature 
were called by thofe Names, we have now wholly lofi them, or take different things for them 
or are in difpute about them; therefore Authors, Natur alifis efpecially, Jhould confult, firft 
of all, the outward Forms of things in order farther to explain them by Defiriptions and 
other Marks; and deliver them down to Poflenty, fo as to free them,fo far as human Rea¬ 
fon is capable of, from the Loffes and injuries they may fuftain from Fime. In deferibing 
natural Fhings nothing ought to be omitted, that is any way remarkable, and may fix and 
[ c ] efiablijh 
