Th L PFreface.
us Nith other Authors, and which we do not give for new i but
only as beim" i lime flort conliderable, by reafon of tie ccrtainty
anid credit, which the Teftinonies ofl-O many Perfons who have con-
tributed to thei I)eticriptions, may add to the Fads which we de-
clare.
  This fo prccitv exxa&ncf in relating all the particulars which xN c
obervc, is qualificd wirlh a like care to draw well the Figures, as
well ci the intire Animals, as of their external Parts, and of all thofe
which are inwa; dly concealed. Thetis Parts having been confide-
red, and examined with Eves affifred with Micro/copes, when need
required, werc inftantly deft-Itned by one of thole upon whom the
Company had impofed the charge of niaking the Decf!-iptions;
and they were not graved, till all thole which were prelernt at the
Diffeions found that they were wholly conformable to what they
had feen.  It was thought that it was a thing very advantaious
for thle perfedion of thefe Figures to be done by a Hand wllich was
guided by otier fcictices than thofe of Painting, which are not alonie
fufficient, becaufe that in this the Importance is not to much to re-
prefent well what is feen, as to fee well what lhould be repre-
lented.
  Our Memoires being thus conipofcd it is to be hoped that they
will afford Matter for a Natural Hi/tory, which will not be unworthy
of the Greateft King that ever has been ; and that if in this to equal
Alexander, as heequals and furpaiks himn in all other things, he wants
fo great a Perfon as Ariflotle, the care which His Majefty has taken
to fupply this Defe&, by the Number of Perfons which he has cho-
fen for this Employ, and- by, the Order- obferved to perform the
things wlth an abfolutc exaffnefs, will make this W ork, which was
undertaken by his Coimand, not inferior perhaps, to,-itat which
has been done for Alexander.



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