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. '(XL - ' 
I03 
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vc-;m*s. 3 [ iii 
'+ f i-j 
PREFACE. 
T HE following Synopfis was originally in¬ 
tended for private amufement, and as an 
Index, for the more ready turning to any 
particular animal in the voluminous hiflory of 
quadrupeds by M. De Buffon : But as it fwelled 
by degrees to a fize beyond my firft expectation, in 
the end I was determined to fling it into its prefent 
form, and to ufher it into the world. 
The Synopfis of our illuftrious countryman Mr. 
Ray has been long out of print *, and though from 
his enlarged knowlege and great induftry one might 
well fuppofe his Work would for fome time difcourage 
all further attempts of the fame fort, yet a republica¬ 
tion of that Synopfis would not have anfwered our 
prefent defign : For, living at a period when the 
ftudy of Natural Hiflory was but beginning to dawn 
in thefe Kingdoms, and when our contracted Com¬ 
merce deprived him of many lights we now enjoy, he 
was obliged to content himfelf with giving defcrip- 
tlons of the few Animals brought over here, and col¬ 
lecting the reft of his materials from other Writers. 
Yet fo correct was his genius, that we view a 
fyftematic arrangement arife even from the Chaos 
of Aldrovandus and Gefner . Under his hand the 
indigefted matter of thefe able and copious Writers 
a flumes a new form, and the whole is made clear 
and perfpicuous. 
A 2 
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