Should we follow the train of refle&ibns, 
which naturally arife from the contemplation 
of animals, they would fwell this preface into 
a \ olume : and fhould we only mention the 
various ufes of Bntifh animals in common life, 
yet the obje&s are not to be numbered. The 
knowlege of Dicctetics is a neceffary branch 
oi medicine, as by a proper attention to that 
article, an obftmate diftemper may be eradi¬ 
cated, when other remedies have failed ; but 
this can never be attained, without the ftudy 
of Zoology, which aflifts us greatly in learning 
the different qualities of animal food ; and 
how far a difference of nutriment may contri¬ 
bute to alter the qualities of a difeafe. 
Cloathing is effential, not only to oiir com¬ 
fort, but fiibflftance ; and the number of our 
manufactures, relative to this Angle article, de¬ 
mand our care for their extenfion and improve¬ 
ment; elpecially as the maintenance of thoii- 
fands depends on thefe important branches of 
commerce; yet thefe may be improved, by 
difeovering new properties in animals; or by 
the farther cultivation of thofe already difeo- 
vered. The feience of Zoology is requifite for 
each of thefe; and if we reflect but a little on 
the unwearied diligence of our rivals the French 
we Ihould attend to every After art that may 
any ways preferve our fuperiority in manu¬ 
factures and commerce. 
Domeftic oeconomy is an object of equal 
eonfequence ; and the author * of the calendar 
of Flora has eftabliftied the ufes of Zoology 
in this particular, with undeniable evidence. 
This excellent writer has united a happy in¬ 
vention, with the moft folid judgment, and 
certainly merits thehigheftapplaufe, as a friend 
of human kind. Our ingenious countryman, 
Alex. Mai. Berger. 
Mr. St tiling fleet, has purfued the fame plan; 
with good fuccefs; and as far as his time would 
permit, has equalled the original; and mani- 
feftly proved the utility of the projecft, in a 
learned difeourfe preflxed to his Work.4 
If then Zoology can fuggeft fo many hints 
towards enlarging and improving our manu¬ 
factures and agriculture; we ftiall not think 
our time mifapplied, in offering to the publick; 
the NATURAL HISTORY of the %***- 
peds and Birds of GREAT-BRITAIN and 
IRELAND. This compilation had its pecu¬ 
liar difficulties; but the labor of travelling thro’ 
a dry airangement of the ftibject, was very fre¬ 
quently alleviated by the beautiful fubje&s we 
met with in our prdgrefs: befides, we own with 
pleafure that we have been greatly aided by the 
lovers of natural hiftory, and hope for the 
continuance of the feme inftructive communi¬ 
cations ; that by collecting and digefting thefe 
materials, we may not only complete the prefent 
work, but poflibly trace the Britifti Zoology 
thro’ the remaining clafles. 
In the profecution of this plan, we ftiall, to 
avoid the perplexity arifing from forming a new 
fyftem, adopt that of the ineftimable Mr. Ray, 
who advanced the ftudy of nature far beyond 
all that went before him; and whofe abilities, 
integrity, and mildnefs, were no lefs an orna¬ 
ment to the human Ipecies in general, than to 
his own country in particular : yet, as this ex¬ 
cellent man, was in a manner the founder of 
fyftematic Zoology, fo later difeoveries have 
made a few improvements on his labors : 
where ever then he is miftaken in the arrange¬ 
ment of animals, we ftiall follow the fyftem of 
M. Briflon ; whofe merit, as a naturalift, is 
not yet known; or at left, not fufficiently ac- 
knowleged among us. J \y r e 
+ Swedilh trafts, tranflated from the amaen. Acad. 2d Edition. 
+. Animal. Paris 1756.410. Ornithologie, contenant 
la divifion des oyfeaux, &c. Paris 1760, 1762, 6 tom. 4to. 
