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
- Proof of the Theory of the Earth.
- ARTICLE XI. Of Seas and Lakes
- Article XII. Of the Flux and Reflux
- Article XIII. Of the Inequalities at the Bottom of the Sea, and of Currents
- Article XIV. Of regular Winds
- Article XV. Of irregular Winds, Hurricanes, and other Phenomena, caused by the Agitation of the Sea and Air
- Article XVI. Of Volcanos and Earthquakes
- Article XVII. Of New Islands, Caverns, Perpendicular Clefts, &c.
- Article XVIII. Of the Effects of Rain—of Marshes, Subterraneous Wood and Water
- Article XIX. Of the Changes of Land into Sea and Sea into Land
- Conclusion of the Theory of the Earth
- History of Animals.
- Chapter I. A comparison between Animals, Vegetables and other Productions of Nature
- Chapter II. Of Reproduction in general
- Chapter III. Of Nutrition and Growth
- Chapter IV. Of the Generation of Animals
- Chapter V. Exposition of the Systems in Generation
