x, 483 pp. Woodcuts within text, including illustrated title page. (8vo) 20.5x12.3 cm. (8x5"), tree-grain calf, gilt-lettered morocco spine labels. Second Edition.

First published in 1790, Bewick's influential work arose from a desire "to instruct his readers in an agreeable way... Bewick faithfully depicted each quadruped in proper sequence. Exotic animals like the lion and the hippopotamus, which he took from books, may be unconvincing, but he never fails with the dogs, sheep, and cats, which he drew from life...." (Ray, Illustrator...in England, 49).