THE 
PREFACE. 
; ik S to the following Catalogue, I have fame things'to fay, oftheOr- 
! der, Names, Defcriptions, Figures, and Vfes of Particulars, 
£ \ and the Quotations I have made therein. 
As to the firfi, I like not the reajon which Aldrovandus gives 
for his beginning the Hiftory of Quadrupeds with the Horfe 5 Quod pra- 
cipuam nobis utilitatem prsbeat. Being better placed according to tFe de¬ 
grees of their Approximation, to Humane Shape, and one to another : and 
fo other Pipings, according to their Nature. Much left fiould 1 chuofi, 
with Gefner, to go by the Alphabet. The very Scale of the Creatures, is a 
matter of high peculation. 
As to the Names, where they were wanting, ( which in our own Lan¬ 
guage were many ) I have taken leave to give them. But have generally re- 
teind them, where I have found them all-ready given. Although, from fome 
dijhnguifhing Note left convenient 5 as the Colour is, than the Figure. 
Andfowetimes very Improper, as Concha Perfica , and the like, fiom the 
Place. For it often falls out, that the fame Thing breeds in many Places. 
But there is no Natural Reafon, why it fiould be called by one, rather than 
another. So that the Names of Things fiould be always taken fiomfomc- 
thing more obfervably declarative of their Form, or Nature. The doing of 
which,wotlld much facilitate and Improve the Knowledge of them many ways. 
Forfo, every Name were afiort Definition. Where as if Words are con¬ 
fus'd, little clfe can be diJlinStly learn d. Yet I took, it not to be my part, 
aUually to reform this matter 5 imlef I had been writing an ZJniverfid Histo¬ 
ry of Nature. 
In the Defcriptions, I have taken care ; Firfl, to reffifie the nii(lakes of 
fitch as are given us by other Hands. Secondly, not to Iranfcribe any ; as 
is too commonly done : but having noted fomething more special therein, to 
refer to the Author. Thirdly, where there is no Deficription at all, or that 
is toojhort , or the faults therein many, to give one at large. For the doing 
of all which, what the trouble of comparing Books together hath been, I (hi 
with Sleydan in another Cafe, Poll; Deum Immortalem Ipfe novi. 
I” the Defcriptions given, I have obferved , with the Figures of Things, 
afo t cir Colours ; fo far as I could, uiilcfs I had view'd them Living, and 
A ”d have added theirjuft Meafitres. Much negleded by Writers 
of Natural Hiftory. 
Ij any objeff agawfl their length : perhaps they have not fowell conftdered 
thenecejjity hereof, for the cleer and evident diftinction of thefeveral Kinds 
and Species,in fo great a variety of Things known in the World. And wherein 
a fa regard is to be had, to all that after Ages may di[cover, or have occap.on 
to enquire after. The Ctiriofity and Diligence of Plinv, is highly to be com- 
mended let he is fo brief, that his Works are rather a Nomenclature, 
than a Hijtory: which perhaps might be more intelligible to the Age he lived 
