布封是18世纪法国著名的博物学家和作家。他坚持以唯物主义的思想看待地球与生物的起源和发展，被誉为“和大自然一样伟大的天才”。《自然史》是一部博物志，书中以大量的科学观察为基础，从唯物主义的角度对自然界的各种现象做了详细的描述。书中提到的“物种可变”和“进化”的思想对当时的社会具有积极的启蒙作用，也对后来达尔文提出“物种起源”与“进化论”产生了深远影响。
《自然史》原著为法文，共44卷。本版为英国学者James Smith Barr在1797—1807年翻译出版的10卷册，是原著中最精华的部分，主要包括地球的理论、动物史、人类史、家畜驯养史，并简单介绍了矿物和植物等内容。本书可供生物学、生态学、地质学等专业的高校师生和相关科研人员以及博物爱好者阅读。
- 前辅文
- OF CARNIVOROUS ANIMALS.
- 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 Otter
- The Seal, Walrus, and the Manati
- The Seal
- The Walrus, Morse, or Sea-Cow
- The Dugon
- The Manati
- The Nomenclature 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 Bonnet Chinois
- The Mangabey
- The Mona
- The Callitrix, or Green Monkey
- The Moustac
- The Talapoin
- The Douc
- The Sapajous and the Sagoins
- The Ouarine, and the Alouate
- The Coaita, and the Exquima
- The Sajou
- The Sai
- The Saimiri
- The Saki
- The Tamarin
- The Ouistiti
- The Marikina
- The Pinch
- The Mico
- Account of Some Animals not Expressly Treated of in this Work
- 1. The White Bear
- 2. The Tartarian Cow
- 3. The Tolai
- 4. The Zisel
- 5. The Zemni
- 6. The Pouch
- 7. The Perouasca
- 8. The Souslik
- 9. The Golden-coloured Mole
- 10. The White Water-Rat
- 11. The Guinea-Hog
- 12. The Wild Boar of Cape Verd
- 13. The Mexican Wolf
- 14. The Alco
- 15. The Tayra, or Galera
- 16. The Philander of Surinam
- 17. The Akouchi
- 18. The Tucan
- 19. The Field-Mouse of Brasil
- 20. The Aperea
- 21. The Tapeti
- Supplement to the Quadrupeds
- The Crab-Eater
- Anonymous Animal
- Madagascar Rat
- Of the Degeneration of Animals
