Natural History was in former times so filled with fabulous narratives, that there is scarcely any part of knowledge in which less help has descended to us from our ancestors; and the desire of relating something wonderful has at all times prevailed so much on physiologists,2 that they have with too much readiness adopted the tales of the vulgar, and, with too much credulity admitted the testimonies of such as observe grossly or relate inaccurately.

From this fault Dr. Browne seems to be more free than most writers, and therefore they who look rather for amusement than truth may perhaps find themselves disappointed. How much he has added to the history of Sir Hans Sloane3we are not able to tell, having not compared them, but have reason to believe that he has generally trusted his own eyes, and then, though he should have discovered no new animals or vegetables, his book is still useful, as the accounts of two observers necessarily illustrate one another.

But that he has added nothing we are very far from intending to insinuate. His fault seems to be not omission, but unnecessary diligence. He has described many products of Jamaica which are equally to be found in other parts, perhaps in every part of the known world.

Natural History is above most other kinds of compositions subject to repetition; every man is fond of the country that he inhabits, and is willing to multiply its products, and celebrate its fertility. But it should be considered that what has been already compleatly described, it is of no use to describe again, and therefore, in the account of any country, those things should be selected, that are peculiar to it, that are distinguished by some permanent and natural difference from the same species in other places; or that are little known to those in whose language the book is written. Upon these principles we have extracted the following particulars without intending to prefer them to many others, for which we have no room. . . .4