Copy 1, Volume 1

History of British birds. The figures engraved on wood / by Thomas Bewick.

  • Thomas Bewick
Date:
1847
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: History of British birds. The figures engraved on wood / by Thomas Bewick. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    PREFACE. To those who attentively consider the subject of Natural History, as displayed in the animal creation, it will appear, that though much has been done to explore the intricate paths of Nature, and follow her through all her various windings, much yet remains to be done before the great oeconomy is completely developed. Notwithstanding the laborious and not unsuccessful inquiries of ingenious men in all ages, the subject is far from being exhausted. Systems have been formed and exploded, and new ones have appear- ed in their stead; but, like skeletons injudiciously put to- gether, they give but an imperfect idea of that order and symmetry to which they are intended to be subservient: they have, however, their use, but it is chiefly the skilful practitioner who is enabled to profit by them ; to the less- informed they appear obscure and perplexing, and too fre- quently deter him from the great object of his pursuit. To investigate, with any tolerable degree of success, the more retired and distant parts of the animal oeconomy, is a task of no small difficulty. An enquiry so desirable and so eminently useful would require the united efforts of many to give it the desired success. Men of leisure, of all descrip- tions, residing in the country, could scarcely find a more
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