布封是18世紀(jì)法國(guó)著名的博物學(xué)家和作家。他堅(jiān)持以唯物主義的思想看待地球與生物的起源和發(fā)展,被譽(yù)為“和大自然一樣偉大的天才”。
《自然史》是一部博物志,書中以大量的科學(xué)觀察為基礎(chǔ),從唯物主義的角度對(duì)自然界的各種現(xiàn)象做了詳細(xì)的描述。書中提到的“物種可變”和“進(jìn)化”的思想對(duì)當(dāng)時(shí)的社會(huì)具有積極的啟蒙作用,也對(duì)后來(lái)達(dá)爾文提出“物種起源”與“進(jìn)化論”產(chǎn)生了深遠(yuǎn)影響。
《自然史》原著為法文,共44卷。本版為英國(guó)學(xué)者James Smith Barr在1797-1807年翻譯出版的10卷冊(cè),是原著中*精華的部分,主要包括地球的理論、動(dòng)物史、人類史、家畜馴養(yǎng)史,并簡(jiǎn)單介紹了礦物和植物等內(nèi)容。
《Natural History(9 自然史第9卷)》可供生物學(xué)、生態(tài)學(xué)、地質(zhì)學(xué)等專業(yè)的高校師生和相關(guān)科研人員以及博物愛好者閱讀。
在已探知的星球中,唯地球有人類。人類社會(huì)和自然界構(gòu)成了這顆星球的整個(gè)世界。人類來(lái)源于自然,依賴于自然,不斷地探索自然,了解自己從何而來(lái),向何而去?為什么在這萬(wàn)物共生的自然界脫穎而出,成為這個(gè)世界的主宰?又怎樣與這個(gè)世界大家庭和睦相處,適應(yīng)客觀發(fā)展?……只有了解過(guò)去,才能更好地認(rèn)識(shí)現(xiàn)在;懂得了過(guò)去和現(xiàn)在,才能主動(dòng)地面對(duì)未來(lái)。歷史是最好的教科書,在《地球簡(jiǎn)史》《人類簡(jiǎn)史》《時(shí)間簡(jiǎn)史》等紛紛面世的當(dāng)代,人們不由地把目光又投向260多年前就誕生了的《自然史》,這部洋洋數(shù)百萬(wàn)字的曠世巨著,開辟了科學(xué)史作的先河,它從行星到地球,從空氣到海洋,從動(dòng)物到人類,……天、地、生、人,無(wú)所不包,海、陸、空,面面俱到,是一部記述自然的百科全書。
書中全面論述了地球理論和地球歷史,展現(xiàn)了風(fēng)、火、水、潮、雷、震(地震)、光、熱等各種自然現(xiàn)象;對(duì)人和生物的論述更是生動(dòng)形象,豐富多彩。從生命的起源、器官的發(fā)育、青春期的特點(diǎn),到機(jī)能的退化,直至死亡,把人類生息繁衍的過(guò)程講得有聲有色。對(duì)生物,特別是動(dòng)物的描繪投下了重重筆墨,占據(jù)了大量篇幅,天上飛的,地上長(zhǎng)的,野生的,馴養(yǎng)的,食肉的,食草的,大到熊、馬,小至鼠、兔,畜、禽,鳥、獸,花、草、樹、木,樣樣俱全,活靈活現(xiàn),既有理性,又有情趣,好像無(wú)論哪種野性的動(dòng)物都可以成為人類的寵物和朋友。法國(guó)著名思想家盧梭是這樣評(píng)價(jià)的:“布封以異常平靜而又悠然自得的語(yǔ)言歌頌了自然界中所有的重要物品,呈現(xiàn)出造物者的尊嚴(yán)與靈性。他具有那個(gè)世紀(jì)最美的文筆!
萬(wàn)物皆有道,自然最奇妙。幾乎所有涉及自然的事物都可以從《自然史》汲取營(yíng)養(yǎng),得到啟示。讀這類名著,既能增長(zhǎng)知識(shí),豐富閱歷,又能賞心悅目,閑情逸致。即使歷史已過(guò)去了幾百年,社會(huì)發(fā)生了巨變,也未失去這部歷史巨著的價(jià)值和魅力。這就是一部不朽之作的歷史地位。布封在書中提出“物種可變”和“進(jìn)化”的思想,被生物進(jìn)化論創(chuàng)始人達(dá)爾文稱為“以現(xiàn)代科學(xué)眼光對(duì)待這個(gè)問(wèn)題的第一人”。
哲語(yǔ)說(shuō),文如其人!蹲匀皇贰返淖髡卟挤,全名喬治,路易,勒克萊爾.布封(Georges-Louis Leclerc,Comtede Buffon,1707-1788),如同他的不朽著作一樣,也有一部不尋常的經(jīng)歷。他生于法國(guó),自幼喜好自然科學(xué),特別是數(shù)學(xué)。1728年法律專業(yè)畢業(yè)后,又學(xué)了兩年醫(yī)學(xué)。20歲時(shí)就先于牛頓發(fā)現(xiàn)了二項(xiàng)式定理;26歲成為法蘭西科學(xué)院機(jī)械部的助理研究員,翻譯并出版了英國(guó)博物學(xué)者海爾斯的著作《植物生理與空氣分析》和牛頓的《微積分術(shù)》;1739年,32歲的他轉(zhuǎn)為法蘭西科學(xué)院數(shù)學(xué)部的副研究員,并被任命為“巴黎皇家植物園及御書房”的總管;1753年成為法蘭西科學(xué)院院士。他用40年的時(shí)間寫出了長(zhǎng)達(dá)36卷的《自然史》,后又由他的學(xué)生整理出版了8卷,共44卷。此書一出版,就轟動(dòng)了歐洲的學(xué)術(shù)界,各國(guó)很快有了譯本。1777年,法國(guó)政府給布封建了一座銅像,上面寫著:“獻(xiàn)給和大自然一樣偉大的天才。”這是對(duì)布封的崇高評(píng)價(jià)。
《自然史》原著為法文,這里出版的是英國(guó)學(xué)者James Smith Barr在1797-1807年翻譯的英文版10卷冊(cè),選取的是原著中最精華的部分。發(fā)行這樣的英文版高級(jí)作品、高級(jí)讀物,就像外文書籍、外文刊物一樣,自然面對(duì)的也是高水平的讀者和館藏者,希望他們既可以接近原汁原味地欣賞原著,感受自然的魅力,受到自然科學(xué)和文學(xué)藝術(shù)的熏陶,同時(shí)又能自然而然地提高英文素養(yǎng)和寫作水平。在廣大知識(shí)分子外語(yǔ)水平普遍提高的今天,這樣的科學(xué)傳播形式也許會(huì)受到越來(lái)越多讀者的青睞。
The Loris
The Javelin Bat
The Serval
The Ocelot
The Margay
The Jackal, and the Adil
The Isatis
The Glutton
The Stinkards
The Pekan, and the Vison
The Sable
The Leming
The Sea Otter
The Canadian Otterr
The Seal, Walrus, and the Mannati
The Seal
The Walrus, Morse, or Sea-Cow
The Dugon
The Manati
The Nomenclatutre of Apes
The Orang-Outang, or the Pongo, and the Jocko
The Pithecos, or Pigmy
The Gibbon, or Long-armed Ape
The Magot, or Barbary Ape
The Papion, or the Baboon, properly so called
The Mandrill
The Ouanderou, and the Lowando
The Maimon,
The Macaque, and the Egret
The Patas
The Malbrouck, and the Bonrnet Chin,ois
The Mangabey
The Mona
The Callitrix, or Green Monkey
……
Supplement to the Quadrupeds
《Natural History(9 自然史第9卷)》:
The legs of the glutton are not formed for running; he cannot even walk except slowly; but cunning supplies the deficiency of swiftness. He conceals himself to watch for his prey; and to seize it with greater security he climbs up trees, from which he darts even on the elk and rein-deer, and fastens himself so strongly with his claws and teeth on their backs that all their efforts cannot remove him. The poor animal thus attacked, in vain flies with its utmost speed, in vain rubs himself against trees, to obtain deliverance from this cruel enemy; all is useless; fastened on his back or loins the glutton persists in digging into his flesh, and sucking his blood, till the animal, fainting with loss of blood, sinks a victim to his tormentor, when the glutton devours his flesh with the utmost avidity and cruelty; and several authors affirm, that it is almost inconceivable the length of time he will continue eating, or the quantity of flesh he will devour.
The accounts of travellers are doubtless exaggerated; but if we even retrench a great part of their recitals, there will still remain sufficient to convince us that the glutton is much more voracious than any other beast of prey; and from this circumstance he has, not unjustly been denominated the quadruped vulture. He is more insatiable, and commits greater depredations than the wolf; and would destroy every animal, if he had sufficient agility, but he is reduced to drag himself heavily along; and the only animal he is capable of overtaking is the beaver, whom he easily destroys. He even attacks that animal in his hole and devours both him and his young, unless they get to the water, in which case the beaver escapes his enemy by swimming, for the glutton stops his pursuit to feed on the fish he can find. When deprived of living food, he goes in search of car cases, scratches up the graves, and devours the flesh of dead bodies.
Although this animalis subtle and uses every art to conquer others, he does not seem to have the least instinct for his own preservation. This indifference, which seems to shew imbecility, is perhaps occasioned by a different cause; for it is certain the glutton is not a stupid animal, since he readily finds means to satisfy his perpetual appetite; he does not want for courage, since he attacks every animal indifferently that comes in his way, and does not fly at the sight of man, nor even shew the least mark of fear. But this negligence for his own safety does not arise from an indifference for his preservation, but from a habit of security. He is almost a stranger to men, for being a native and resident of desart countries where they seldom come, when he does meet them, he has no reason to take them for enemies; besides, in every contest with other animals he is certain of conquest; and therefore he moves with confidence, and has not the least idea of fear, which supposes some foreproved misfortune, or some experience of weakness and inability. We have an example of this intrepidity in the lion, who never turns his back on man, at least till he has tried his strength; so the glutton traverses the snow, in his own desart climate, in perfect security. In those regions he reigns supreme, as does the lion in the forests and burning sands; and if not like him, from superior prowess, he is no less so from the weakness and timidity of those with whom he has to contend.
The isatis is not so strong, but much swifter than the glutton; he serves the latter as a purveyor, for the glutton follows him in his pursuit of animals, and often deprives him of his prey; for as soon as he approaches, the isatis, to avoid his own destruction, takes to flight, and leaves to his pursuer what he has not had time to devour. Both these animals burrow underground; but in every other habit they differ. The isatis will associate and often go in company; while the glutton always moves alone, or at most only with his female; indeed the male and female are frequently found together in their burrows. The most fierce dogs are averse from attacking the glutton, as he defends himself with his teeth and feet, and often mortally wounds them; but as he cannot escape by flight, when once beset it is not long before he is subdued.
The flesh of the glutton, like that of every other voracious animal, is very bad food. He is only hunted for his skin, which makes beautiful fur, not inferior to the sable and black fox. Some of them, when well-dressed, has a more beautiful gloss than any other skin, and is by no means inferior in appearance to a rich damask.
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