Memoir's for a natural history of animals containing the anatomical descriptions of several creatures dissected by the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris / Englished by Alexander Pitfeild ... ; to which is added an account of the measure of a degree of a great circle of the earth, published by the same Academy and Englished by Richard Waller ...

THE PUBLISHER To The READER.

THese Famous Memoir's containing the Anatomical Descriptions of several Animals (and those all Exotic and scarce to be procured) together with very excellent Observations thereon, are some of the first∣fruits and accurate performances of the Royal Academy of Sciences at Paris. They were by them some time since so Magnificently, as well as Curiously set forth in two Volumes, that (as they seemed not to be designed for com∣mon Sale, so) they became Presents only from the King, or Academy, to Persons of the greatest Quality, and were hereby rendered unattainable by the ordinary Methods for other Books. And altho' by some few, who (through this means) had the opportunity of perusing them, they were found full fraught with very Pertinent, as well as Curious Observations; yet so great was the difficulty in procuring the favour of such a perusal (not only here in England, but even at Paris it self) that the Ingenious Labours of that Illustrious Society were hereby made less Useful and Ineffectual to their great Design; most of the Learned being totally deprived of the singular Advantages that might be obtained therefrom.

For these Reasons it was judged that the exhibiting of this admirable Treatise in an English dress, might prove no unacceptable Present, it be∣ing a Work inriched with many Curious Physical, and no less Useful Anatomical Remarks, of great Importance to the Promotion and Improve∣ment of Natural Knowledg; especially that part which respects the Con∣struction, Fabrick, and Genuine Use of the Parts of Animals, and even of Man: A Knowledge no way better to be obtained than from the Compara∣tive Anatomy of divers Animals; that Texture of Parts being discoverable in one Animal, which Nature has conceal'd and made more obscure in a∣nother.

These Considerations, backt with the earnest Importunities of several Friends, and the hopes of being serviceable to the Ingenious Inquirers into Nature, so far prevailed upon me, that (in compliance to their desires, and

for the publick Benefit) I undertook this Edition, wherein I have used my utmost endeavours for the rendering a faithful Translation thereof; still keeping as near as I could to the true sense of the French Coppy, and varying as little therefrom as the Nature of the English Language would permit. How far they have herein succeeded, is wholly submitted to the Censure of the Learned, whose kind acceptance of these perform∣ances may prove a farther Motive to present them with some other things of this kind, whereby the useful Application of these, and divers others of the like Nature will more evidently appear.

But there was one thing more difficult to be overcome (at least by me) than what I have hitherto mentioned, and that was the presenting you with the Figures and Delineations, which in the French Edition are ex∣ceedingly accurate, as well as skillfully Engraven in Copper. And here∣in Gratitude oblidges me to acknowledg the great kindness of Mr. Richard Waller, without whose Assistance I should have been at a loss, and this Design would have fall'n to the Ground: But his Zealous endeavours to promote Natural Discoveries soon prevail'd with him to ingage himself in this more difficult Task: And accordingly he proportioned and wrought them after the French Originals, with as much exactness as was pos∣sible; and altho' to accommodate them to this Volume, he was neces∣sitated to contract and lessen the size, yet has he so well disposed of the Parts of each Plate, that what is most material is very plain and clear∣ly Intelligible. Most of the Animals are represented three quarters as bigg as in the Originals, and all the Diffected Parts half as bigg; excepting some few as bigg as the Life, which is expressed in their particular Expli∣cations. His great Care in thus nicely contracting the Plates, and allowing to each part its due Symmetry and Proportion are sufficient Testimonies of his Skill in Designing, which with his other Abilities being already well known to the Royal Society, I must (by reason of his Modesty and my near Relation) forbear giving him those Prayses which in Iustice be∣long unto him.

To him also I am oblidged for furnishing me with the Translation of the Observations made for Measuring a Degree upon the Earth, which tho' it be a Subject of a differing Nature, yet being one of the most con∣siderable Productions of the same Illustrious Academy, and being joyned to one of the Volumes in the French Edition, I conceived it would be as pertinent and proper to accompany them in English.

Thus have I given you a short account of this following undertaking, hop∣ing you may hereby receive as great Satisfaction in peruseing, as I have done in tranlateing these Memoir's.