Georges Louis Leclerc, Count de Buffon
Translated by William Smellie (1791)
© Marble bust of Buffon
by Augustin Pajou (1776).
Bibliothèque centrale,
Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle,
Paris, France
NATURAL HISTORY, GENERAL AND PARTICULAR Volume 1
The History and Theory of the Earth. Page 1
Proofs of the Theory of the Earth. Page 59
Article I. Of the Formation of Planets. Page 59
II. Of Whiston's Theory of the Earth. Page 97
III. Of Burnet's Theory. Page 109
IV. Of Woodward's Theory. Page 113
V. Examination of Some other Theories. Page 118
---------- Bourguet's Theory. Page 122
---------- Leibnitz's Theory. Page 124
---------- Scheutzer's Theory. Page 126
VI. Geography. Page 133
VII. Of the Formation of Strata, or Beds, in the Earth. Page 157
VIII. Of Shells, and other Productions of the Sea, found in the interior Parts of the Earth. Page 188
IX. Of the Inequalities upon the Earth's Surface. Page 228
X. Of Rivers. Page 249
XI. Of Seas and Lakes. Page 290
XII. Of the Tides. Page 339
XIII. Of Inequalities in the Bottom of the Sea, and of Currents. Page 351
XIV. Of Regular Winds. Page 367
XV. Of Irregular Winds, Hurricanes, Water-Spouts, and other Phaenomena occasioned by the Agitation of the Sea, and of the Air. Page 386
XVI. Of Volcano's and Earthquakes. Page 408
XVII. Of New Islands, Caverns, perpendicular Fissures, etc. Page 442
XVIII. Of the Effects of Rains — Of Marshes, Subterraneous Wood and Waters. Page 473
XIX. Of the Changes of Land into Sea, and of Sea into Land. Page 483
Conclusion. Page 512
NATURAL HISTORY, GENERAL AND PARTICULAR Volume 2
Chap. I. Analogies between Animals and Vegetables. Page 1
II. Of Reproduction in general. Page 16
III. Of Nutrition and Growth. Page 39
IV. Of the Generation of Animals. Page 49
V. Examination of the different Systems of Generation. Page 64
VI. Experiments on Generation. Page 148
VII. Comparison of my own Experiments with those of Leeuwenhoek. Page 193
VIII. Reflections on the preceding Experiments. Page 212
IX. Varieties in the Generation of Animals. Page 255
X. Of the Formation of the Foetus. Page 271
XI. Of the Expansion, Growth, and Delivery of the Foetus. Page 303
Recapitulation. Page 346
The Natural History of Man.
Sect. I. Of the Nature of Man. Page 353
II. Of Infancy. Page 369
III. Of Puberty. Page 400
IV. Of Manhood. Page 436
V. Of Old Age and Death. Page 470
Tables of the Probability and Duration of Human Life. Page 498
NATURAL HISTORY, GENERAL AND PARTICULAR Volume 3
The Natural History of Man.
Sect. VI. Of the Sense of Seeing. Page 1
VII. Of the Sense of Hearing. Page 26
VIII. Of the Senses in General. Page 40
IX. Of the Varieties of the Human Species. Page 57
A Dissertation on the Nature of Animals. Page 208
Of Domestic Animals. Page 301
The Natural History of the Horse. Page 306
---------- of the Ass. Page 398
---------- of the Ox. Page 423
---------- of the Sheep. Page 461
---------- of the Goat. Page 486
---------- of the Hog, the Hog of Siam, and the Wild Boar. Page 500
NATURAL HISTORY, GENERAL AND PARTICULAR Volume 4
The Natural History of the Dog. Page 1
---------- of the Cat. Page 49
A Dissertation on Wild Animals. Page 66
The Natural History of the Stag, or Red Deer. Page 74
---------- of the Hog Stag. Page 111
---------- of the Fallow Deer. Page 113
---------- of the Roe Deer. Page 120
---------- of the Hare. Page 135
---------- of the Rabbit. Page 155
A Dissertation on Carnivorous Animals. Page 164
The Natural History of the Wolf. Page 196
---------- of the black Wolf. Page 212.
---------- of the Fox. Page 214
---------- of the Badger. Page 226
---------- of the Otter. Page 232
---------- of the Otter of Guiana. Page 237
---------- of the Martin. Page 239
---------- of the Martin of Guiana. Page 243
---------- of the Small Martin of Guiana. Page 244
---------- of the Pine-Weasel. Page 245
---------- of the Pole-cat. Page 248
---------- of the Ferret. Page 252
---------- of the Weasel. Page 257
---------- of the Ermine. Page 262
---------- of the Grison. Page 266
---------- of the Squirrel. Page 268
---------- of the Rat. Page 275.
---------- of the Mouse. Page 282
---------- of the long-tailed Field Mouse. Page 285
---------- of the Water Rat. Page 290
---------- of the short-tailed Field Mouse. Page 293
---------- of the Guiney Pig. Page 299
---------- of the Hedgehog. Page 300
---------- of the Shrew Mouse. Page 305
---------- of the Water Shrew or blind Mouse. Page 308
---------- of the Mole. Page 309
---------- of the Mole of the Cape of Good Hope. Page 315
---------- of the Pensylvania Mole. Page 316
---------- of the Bat. Page 317
---------- of the long-eared Bat. Page 322
---------- of the Noctule. Page ib.
---------- of the Serotine. Page 323
---------- of the Pipistrelle. Page ib.
---------- of the Barbastelle. Page ib.
---------- of the Horse Shoe Bat. Page 324
---------- of the Fat Squirrel. Page 325
---------- of the Garden Squirrel. Page 332
---------- of the Dormouse, or Sleeper. Page 334
---------- of the Brown Rat. Page 336
---------- of the Alpine Marmot. Page 339
---------- of the Monax or Marmot of Canada. Page 346
---------- of the Marmot of Kamtschatka. Page 348
---------- of the Marmot of the Cape of Good Hope. Page ib.
NATURAL HISTORY, GENERAL AND PARTICULAR Volume 5
Natural History of the Bear. Page 1
---------- of the Beaver. Page 21
---------- of the Raccoon. Page 46
---------- of the Coati. Page 52
---------- of the Agouti. Page 56
---------- of the Lion. Page 65
Dissertation on Tigers. Page 87
---------- on Animals peculiar to the Old World. Page 90
---------- on Animals peculiar to the New World. Page 112
---------- on Animals common to both Continents. Page 124
Natural History of the Tiger. Page 153
---------- of the Panther, Ounce, and Leopard. Page 167
---------- of the Jaguar. Page 187
---------- of the Jaguar or Leopard. Page 192
---------- of the Jaguar of New Spain. Page 193
---------- of the Couguar. Page 197
---------- of the Couguar of Pensylvania. Page 200
---------- of the Black Couguar. Page 201
---------- of the Lynx. Page 203
---------- of the Canadian Lynx. Page 217
---------- of the Caracal. Page 221
---------- of the Caracal of Bengal. Page 224
---------- of the Hyaena. Page 226
---------- of the Civet and Zibet. Page 239
---------- of the Genet. Page 254
---------- of the French Genet. Page 256
---------- of the Canadian and Muscovy Musk Rats. Page 260
---------- of the Mexican Hog. Page 271
---------- of the Ternat Bat, the lesser Ternat Bat, and the Vampire. Page 281
---------- of the Senegal Bat. Page 302
---------- of the Bull-dog Bat. Page 303
---------- of the bearded Bat. Page 305
---------- of the striped Bat. Page 306
---------- of the flying Squirrel. Page 307
---------- of the sailing or great flying Squirrel. Page 312
---------- of the gray Squirrel. Page 321
---------- of the palm Squirrel, the Barbary Squirrel, and the ground Squirrel. Page 329
---------- of the great Ant-eater, the middle Ant-eater, and the least Ant-eater. Page 332
---------- of the short tailed Manis, and the long-tailed Manis. Page 335
---------- of the three -banded Armadillo. Page 366
---------- of the six-banded Armadillo. Page 369
---------- of the eight-banded Armadillo. Page 371
---------- of the nine-banded Armadillo. Page 373
---------- of the twelve-banded Armadillo. Page 375
---------- of the eighteen-banded Armadillo. Page 377
---------- of the long-tailed Armadillo. Page 390
---------- of the Paca, or spotted Cavy. Page 392
---------- of the Virginian Opossum. Page 404
---------- of the Murine Opossum. Page 435
---------- of the Mexican Opossum. Page 438
NATURAL HISTORY, GENERAL AND PARTICULAR Volume 6
The Natural History of the Elephant. Page 1
---------- of the Rhinoceros. Page 92
---------- of the Camel and Dromedary. Page 118
---------- of the Buffalo, the Bonasus, the Urus, the Bison, and the Zebu. Page 150
---------- of the Mouflon, and other Sheep. Page 205
---------- of the Axis. Page 230
---------- of the Zebu, or Dwarf Ox. Page 240
---------- of the Tapir. Page 242
A Dissertation on Nature. Page 249
Natural History of the Zebra. Page 264
---------- of the Hippopotamus. Page 277
---------- of the Elk and Rain-Deer. Page 315
---------- of the Wild Goat, the Chamois Goat, and other Goats. Page 363
---------- of the Salga, or Scythian Antilope. Page 393
---------- of the Antilopes or Gazelles. Page 297
NATURAL HISTORY, GENERAL AND PARTICULAR Volume 7
Of the Bubalus, or Cervine Antilope, and other Animals allied to the Gazelles and Goats. Page 1
The Natural History of the Condoma, or striped Antilope. Page 8
---------- of the Guib, or Harnessed Antilope. Page 12
---------- of the Grim, or Guiney Antilope. Page 14
---------- of the Chevrotains, or Small Antilpes. Page 22
---------- of the Mazames. Page 30
---------- of the Condous, or Indian Antilope. Page 40
---------- of the Musk. Page 44
---------- of the Babiroussa, or Indian Hog. Page 58
---------- of the Cabai, or Thick-nosed Tapir. Page 64
---------- of the Porcupine. Page 69
---------- of the Coendou, or Brasilian Porcupine. Page 76
---------- of the Canadian Porcupine. Page 83
---------- of the Tanrec and the Tendrae. page 86
Second View of Nature. Page 89
Natural History of the Giraffe, or Camelopard. Page 109
---------- of the Lama and Pacos. Page 133
---------- of the Sloths. Page 150
---------- of the Surikate, or Four-toed Wensel. Page 166
---------- of the Tarsier, or Wooly Jerboa. Page 171
---------- of the Phalanger, or Surinam Opossum. Page 174
---------- of the Coquallin, or Varied Squirrel. Page 176
---------- of the Hamster, or German Marmot. Page 178
---------- of the Bobak, and other Marmots. Page 198
---------- of the Jerboas. Page 201
---------- of the Ichneumon. Page 210
---------- of the Fossane. Page 219
---------- of the Vansire. Page 221
---------- of the Makis, or Maucauco's. Page 222
---------- of the Loris, or Tailless Maucauco. Page 230
---------- of the Javelin Bat. Page 234
---------- of the Serval, or Mountain Cat. Page 240
---------- of the Ocelot, or Mexican Cat. Page 243
---------- of the Margai, or Cayenne Cat. Page 249
---------- of the Jackal and Adive. Page 255
---------- of the Isatis, or Arctic Dog. Page 268
---------- of the Glutton. Page 274
---------- of the Mouffettes, or Stinking Polecats. Page 295
---------- of the Pekan and Vison. Page 307
---------- of the Sable. Page 309
---------- of the Leming, or Lapland Marmot. Page 316
---------- of the Sea Otter. Page 321
---------- of the Canadian Otter. Page 324
---------- of the Seals, Walrus, and Manati. Page 328
---------- of the Seals. Page 330
---------- of the Walrus, Morse, or Sea Cow. Page 354
---------- of the Indian Walrus, or Dugon. Page 370
---------- of the Manati. Page 374
Treatise of the Degeration of Animals. Page 392
NATURAL HISTORY, GENERAL AND PARTICULAR Volume 8
Dissertation on Mules. Page 1
The Nomenclature of Apes. Page 39
Natural History of the Orang Outangs, or the Pongo and Jocko. Page 77
---------- of the Pigmy. Page 106
---------- of the Gibbon, or long-armed Ape. Page 113
---------- of the Magot, or Barbary Ape. Page 117
---------- of the Baboon properly so called. Page 121
---------- of the Great Baboon. Page 125
---------- of the Mandrill, or ribbed nose Baboon. Page 129
---------- of the Ouanderou and the Lowando. Page 132
---------- of the Maimon, or pig-tailed Baboon. Page 137
---------- of the Macaque, or hair-lipped Monkey, and Egret. Page 140
---------- of the Patas, or Red Monkey. Page 144
---------- of the Malbrouck and Chinese-Bonnet. Page 148
---------- of the Mangabey. Page 154
---------- of the Mona, or varied Monkey. Page 156
---------- of the Callitrix, or Green Monkey. Page 160
---------- of the Mustache. Page 163
---------- of the Talapoin. Page 165
---------- of the Douc, or Cochin-China Monkey. Page 168
---------- of the Sapajous and Sagoins. Page 172
---------- of the Ouarine and Alouate. Page 176
---------- of the Coaita and Exquima. Page 184
---------- of the Sajou, or Capuchin Monkey. Page 193
---------- of the Sai, or Weeper. Page 196
---------- of the Saimiri, or Orange Monkey. Page 199
---------- of the Saki, or Fox-tailed Monkey. Page 201
---------- of the Tamarin, or great-eared Monkey. Page 203
---------- of the Ouistiti, or striated Monkey. Page 205
---------- of the Marikina, of silky Monkey. Page 209
---------- of the Pinche, or red-tailed Monkey. Page 211
---------- of the Mico, or fair Monkey. Page 214
---------- of the White, or Polar Bear. Page 216
---------- of the Cow of Tartary. Page 225
---------- of the Baikal Hare. Page 228
---------- of the Zisel. Page 229
---------- of the Zemni. Page 232
---------- of the Pouc. Page 233
---------- of the Perouasca. Page 234
---------- of the Souslik. Page ib.
---------- of the gilded Mole. Page 238
---------- of the white Water Rat. Page ib.
---------- of the Guiney Hog. Page 239
---------- of the Cape de Verd Boar. Page 241
---------- of the Mexican Wolf. Page 258
---------- of the Alco. Page 261
---------- of the Tayra, or Guiney Weasel. Page 265
---------- of the Merian Opassum. Page 267
---------- of the Akouci. Page 269
---------- of the Tucan, or Mexican Shrew. Page 271
---------- of the Brsilian Shrew. Page 273
---------- of the Rock Cavy. Page 274
---------- of the Tapeti, or Brasilian Hare. Page 276
---------- of the Crab Eater. Page 279
---------- of an Anonymous Animal. Page 283
---------- of the Madagascar Rat. Page 284
Systematic Index. Page 287
NATURAL HISTORY, GENERAL AND PARTICULAR Volume 9
ADDITIONS to the Article concerning the Formation of the Planets.
I. On the Distance of the Earth from the Sun. Page 1
II. Of the Matter of the Sun and Planets. Page 3
III. Of the Relation between the Density of the Planets and their Celerity. Page 4
IV. On the Relation assigned by Newton between the Density of the Planets and the Degrees of Heat to which they are exposed. Page 6
ADDITIONS to the Article concerning Geography.
I. On the Extent of Terrestrial Continents. Page 8
II. Of the Form of Contients. Page 12
III. Of the Terra Australis. Page 14
IV. Concerning the Invention of the Mariner's Compass. Page 16
V. Of the Discovery of America. Page 17
ADDITIONS to the Article, Of the Production of Strata.
I. Concerning the Strata in different Parts of the Earth. Page 22
II. Of the Interior Rock of the Globe. Page 30
III. Of the Vitrification of Calcareous Substances. Page 32
ADDITIONS to the Article concerning Shells, and other Productions of the Sea, found in the Interior Parts of the Earth.
I. Of Fossil and Petrified Shells. Page 34
II. Of the Places where Shells are found. Page 38
III. Of those great Volutes called Cornua Ammonis, and of some large Bones of Terrestrial Animals. Page 47
ADDITIONS to the Article, Of the Inequalities of the Surface of the Earth.
I. Of the Height of Mountains. Page 50
II. Of the Direction of Mountains. Page 55
III. Of the Formation of Mountains. Page 60
IV. Of the Density which certain Matters acquire by Fire as well as by Water. Page 63
V. Of the Inclination of the Strata in the Mountains. Page 67
VI. Of the Peaks of Mountains. Page 70
ADDITIONS to the Article, Of Rivers.
I. Additional Observations on the theory of Running Waters. Page 72
II. Of the Saltness of the Sea. Page 75
III. Of perpendicular Cataracts. Page 76
ADDITIONS and Corrections to the Article, Of Seas and Lakes.
I. Of the Limits of the South Sea. Page 78
II. Of double Currents in some Parts of the Ocean. Page 79
III. Of the Northern Parts of the Atlantic Ocean. Page 86
IV. Of the Caspian Sea. Page 99
V. Of the Salt Lakes of Asia. Page 102
ADDITIONS and corrections to the Article, Of Inequalities at the Bottom of the Sea, and of Currents.
I. Of the nature and Quality of the Soil at the Bottom of the Sea. Page 104
II. Of Currents in the Ocean. Page 107
ADDITIONS to the Article, Of Regular Winds.
I. Of Reflected Wind. Page 116
II. Of the State of the Air at the Top of high Mountains. Page 117
III. Of some Winds which have a regular Variation. Page 123
IV. Of Lavanges, or great Masses of Snow and Ice rolling down from high Mountains. Page 125
ADDITIONS to the Article, Of Irregular Winds, Water-Spouts, &c.
I. Of the Violence of the South Winds in some Northern Countries. Page 128
II. Of Water-Spouts. Page 129
ADDITIONS to the Article, Of Eathquakes and Volcano's.
I. Of Earthquakes. Page 138
II. Of Volcano's. Page 146
III. Of the Changes which have happened in Volcano's. Page 147
IV. Of Extinguished Volcano's. Page 192
V. Of Lavas and Basalts. Page 209
ADDITIONS to the Article, Of Caverns.
Of Caverns formed by the Primitive Fire. Page 222
ADDITIONS to the Article, Of the Effect of Rains, Marshes, Subterraneous Wood and Water.
I. Of the Sinking and Derangement of certain Lands. Page 228
II. Of Turf. Page 233
III. Of Subterraneous, Petrified, and Charred Wood. Page 237
IV. Of Bones sometimes found in the Interior Parts of the Earth. Page 249
ADDITIONS to the Article, Of the Changes of Sea into Land. Page 255
Facts and Arguments concerning the Epochs of Nature. Page 258
Of the Elevation of the Earth at the Equator, and its Depression at the Poles. Page 261
Of the Internal Heat of the Globe. Page 262
Of the Materials of which the Globe is composed. Page 269
Of the Monuments of Nature. Page 274
Reasons why the Bones of Elephants and other Animals which now inhabit only the Southern Climates, are found in Siberia and North America. Page 275
Of enormous Teeth and other Bones found in Canada near the River Ohio. Page 288
Of Metallic Veins and Metals. Page 307
Of Mountains composed of Load-stone. Page 314
Of Shells found in different Places and Situations. Page 318
Of Fishes living in warm Fountains. Page 321
Of Giants. Page 325
Of Fishes and Plants found in Coal and Slate. Page 341
Of the Nature of Coal, and of Fossil Wood. Page 343
Of the Declivity of Coasts. Page 349
Description of the Maillé, a Savage Nation. Page 351
Remarks on the Caspian Sea. Page 352
Of the Submersion of Taprobana. Page 353
Remarks on Guiana. Page 355
Of the Glaciers. Page 358
Of the North-East Passage. Page 367
Concerning that Period when the Powers of Man aided those of Nature. Page 381
