This gentleman was born at Carlfcrona in Sweden, and had his education at Upfal, that famous fchool of Natural Hiftory, where Linnaeus, Cronjlcdt, and Walkrius, have fo fuccefsfully fyftematized the different kingdoms of Nature ; and where, of late, fo many eminent Naturalifls have been infpired with their genius. Ferber caught a true fpark of it. Not idly devoting himfelf with many fecond-rate difciples of Linntfits to the collection and claffification of plants, he betook himlelf rather to the abftrufer fubterraneous kingdom of Nature ; which, from its being furrounded with darknefs, and attended with difficulties, has hitherto been too much neglected. Nor did he cramp his underftanding with the barren nomenclatures of foffils. He thought of fatisfying himfelf; and of improving fcience, for the fcholar and the miner. In this view he examined a 2 the vi PREFACE. the mines and fmelting-places in Sweden, and travelled, from the year 1768 to 1773*

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