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The PREFACE.

not materially differ from the same Species in Europe, and those which have been described by other Authors.

Of Serpents very few I believe have escaped me, for upon shewing my Designs In this context, "designs" refers to his detailed scientific illustrations and drawings. of them to several of the most intelligent Persons, many of them confess'd not to have seen them all, and none of them pretended to have seen any other kinds.

Of Fish I have described not above Five or Six from Carolina, deferring that Work till my Arrival at the Bahama Islands; which as they afford but few Quadrupeds and Birds, I had more Time to describe the Fishes, and tho' I had been often told they were very remarkable, yet I was surprised to find how lavishly Nature had adorn'd them with Marks and Colours most admirable.

As for Insects these Countries abound in numerous kinds, but I was not able to delineate To sketch or draw with precision. a great Number of them for the Reasons already assign'd: After my Continuance almost three Years in Carolina and the adjacent parts (which the Spaniards call Florida, particularly that Province lately honour'd with the name of Georgia Named for King George II, the colony of Georgia was established in 1732, shortly before the publication of Catesby's work.) I went to Providence, one of the Bahama Islands; to which Place I was invited by his Excellency Charles Phinney, Esq; Catesby refers to George Phenney, who served as Governor of the Bahamas from 1721 to 1728. Governour of those Islands, and was entertain'd by him with much Hospitality and Kindness: From thence I visited many of the adjacent Islands, particularly Ilathera Eleuthera., Andros, Abbacco Abaco. and other neighbouring Islands; tho' these rocky Islands produce many fine Plants, which I have here described; I had principally a Regard to the Fish, there being not any, or a very few of them described by any Author: Both in Carolina and on these Islands, I made successive Collections of dry'd Plants and Seeds, and at these Islands more particularly I collected many Submarine productions, as Shells, Corallines, Sea-shrubs original: "Fruitices Marini." These are branching marine organisms like gorgonians or sea fans., Sponges, Star-corals original: "Astroites." Corals characterized by star-shaped patterns., &c. These I imparted to my curious In the 18th century, "curious" meant someone with a deep, scholarly interest in natural wonders or science. Friends, more particularly (as I had the greatest Obligations) to that great Naturallist and promoter of Science Sir Hans Sloane, Bar.^t Sir Hans Sloane (1660–1753) was a physician whose massive collection of specimens formed the foundation of the British Museum. to whose goodness I attribute much of the Success I had in this Undertaking.

...species in Europe, or those which have been described by other Authors.

I believe that very few Serpents have escaped me, for by showing my drawings to a great number of people very intelligent in these matters, several admitted to me that they had not seen them all before, and no one pretended to know any other species.

I have not described more than five or six species of fish from Carolina; I deferred this work until my arrival at the Bahama Islands, where one finds only a few birds and four-footed animals, so I expected to have more time there to describe the fish; although I had been warned about their singular beauty, I did not cease to be surprised, seeing with what profusion nature has adorned them with colors and spots, the brilliance of which deserves the greatest admiration.

The country abounds in different species of insects; the reasons I have already reported prevented me from drawing a great number of them. After having been for nearly three years in Carolina and the surroundings, particularly in that province which has been honored with the name of Georgia (which the Spaniards call Florida), I went to Providence, which is one of the Bahama Islands; I had been invited there by his Excellency Mr. Charles Phinney, Governor of these islands, who received me into his home, and kept me there during my entire stay with much kindness. From there I visited several of the neighboring islands, in particular Eleuthera, Andros, Abaco, and some others of the surroundings: Although these islands, full of rocks, produce several very curious plants, which I have described here, I attached myself principally to the fish, because there are none, or at least very few, which have been described by authors. In Carolina and in these islands I made successive collections of dried plants and seeds, and especially in these islands I gathered several productions of the sea, such as shells, corals, sea shrubs, sponges, star-corals, etc. I have made a present of them to some cur— The French text ends mid-word, matching the catchword "curieux" for the following page.