We have, in our deferiptions, wholly omit¬ 
ted the anatomy of animals; as that part, 
unlefs executed with the greateft {kill, would 
be no fmall blemilh to the reft of this per¬ 
formance ; but the reader may judge of the 
extent of our plan, by the following heads : 
the character of the genus (hall firft be given : 
then the fpecific name : the fynonyms from 
different authors; and the genera in which 
thofe authors have placed the animal. The 
names {hall be given in feveral European lan¬ 
guages ; and we {hall conclude with a brief, 
but fufficient defcription, adding at the fame 
time, the various ufes, and natural hiftory of 
each individual. 
If this plan fucceeds, in promoting the 
knowlege of nature in this kingdom, we {hall 
think ourfelves amply rewarded. Could our 
exhortations avail, we {hould recommend this 
ftudy moft earneftly to every country gentle 
man. To thofe of an aiftive turn, we might 
fay, that fo pleafing and ufeful an employment 
would relieve the tcedium arifing from a fame- 
nefs of diverfions ; every object would pro¬ 
duce fome new obfervation, and while they 
might feem only to gratify themfelves with a 
prefent indulgence, they would be laying up 
a fund of ufeful knowlege ; they would find 
their ideas infenfibly enlarged, till they com¬ 
prehended the whole of domeftic ceconomy, 
and the wife order of Providence. 
To thofe of a fedentary difpofition, this 
ftudy would not only prove agreeable, but fa- 
lutary : a retired mind is with difficulty drawn 
from his book, to partake of the neceffary en¬ 
joyments of air and exercife; and even when 
thus compelled, he profits lefs by it than men 
of an illiberal education : but this inconveni¬ 
ence would be remedied, could we induce him 
to obferve and reliffi the wonders of nature; 
aided by philofophy, he would find in the woods 
and fields a feries of objefts, that would give to 
exercife charms unknown to him before; and 
enraptured with the fcene, will be ready to 
exclame with the poet. 
On every thorn, delightful wifdom grows 5 
In every rill, a fweet inftrucfion flows. 
Thus would he learn from all he faw, to 
love his Creator for his goodnefs ; to repofe 
an implicit confidence in his wifdom ; and to 
revere his awful Omnipotence. We {hall dwell 
no longer on this fubjeft, than to draw this 
important conclufion; that health of body, and 
a chearful contentment of mind, are the gene¬ 
ral effects of thefe amufements. The latter 
is produced by a contemplation of an all-wife 
Providence ; as conftant and regular exercife 
is the beft prefervative ot the former. 
