PREFACE.

...[man-made] objects by nature. Sixth, to the same objects, though not by nature but similar by art original: "arte similes." Gessner distinguishes between stones that naturally look like tools and those that have been shaped by human craftsmanship.. Seventh, to herbs. Eighth, to shrubs. Ninth, to trees. Tenth, coral is discussed as if it were a marine plant. Eleventh, concerning certain other marine or coastal stony plants, or those approaching the nature of stones. XII. Concerning those which are similar to four-footed animals original: "quadrupedibus.", whether in shape alone, or in substance and body; and those which are produced from them, or are named after them in any way. XIII. The original text uses "XIII I," likely a typesetting error for XIII. Concerning those which are taken from or named after birds. Fourteenth, from aquatic living creatures. Fifteenth, from serpents and insects.

I particularly wished to treat these subjects in this book because the shapes of perhaps all of them can be expressed and depicted; these illustrations are of the greatest assistance in obtaining knowledge of things. For things must be known before [one can discuss] their na—