THE UNIVERSAL DIRECTORY FOR TAKING ALIVE AND DESTROYING RATS, AND ALL OTHER KINDS OF FOUR-FOOTED AND WINGED VERMIN, IN A METHOD HITHERTO UNATTEMPTED: CALCULATED FOR THE USE OF THE GENTLEMAN, THE FARMER, AND THE WARRENER

Book Description

London: Printed for the Author, 1768.. vii,[1],218pp. plus six plates (four folding). Octavo. Old sheep, rebacked to style in polished calf, gilt label. Early ink name across upper margin of title, some occasional marginal thumb-soiling or smudging, a bit of offsetting from the plates, small spot of browning and short tear to one plate margin, but a very good copy. First edition of this oft-reprinted work. The author's introduction draws attention to the fact that much had hitherto been written about the profitable cultivation of desirable animals, but his intent is to take "cognizance of those animals, noxious to the community," to describe "their wonderful wiliness and sagacity, and the uncommon and suprizing methods they take for self- preservation...for the infinite wisdom of the great Creator is as conspicuous in the mole as in a camel...." In addition to various rats and mice, Smith provides advice on hedge hogs, squirrels, weasels, moles, cats, pole cats, bats, hawks, owls, and buzzards. His work is notable for the minute observation it extended toward species normally beneath the gaze of natural historians of his, and earlier, times.

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