vi PREFACE 



Such forms as Notoryctes, Romerolagus, Caenolestes, " Neomylodon" 

 and Ocapia could not possibly have been omitted. 



In preparing my accounts of both living and extinct forms 

 I have nearly invariably consulted the original authorities, and 

 have often supplemented or verified these accounts by my own 

 dissections at the Zoological Society's Gardens. My rule has not, 

 however, been invariable in this matter, inasmuch as there exist 

 two recent and trustworthy text-books of Mammalian Palaeontology 

 Professor Zittel's Handbucli der Palaeontologie, and Dr. A. Smith 

 Woodward's manual, Outlines of Vertebrate Palaeontology, in the 

 Cambridge Biological Series. Where the name of a genus only 

 or its range, or merely one or two facts about it, are mentioned, 

 I have not thought it necessary to go further than these two 

 works. But a good deal has been done even since the appear- 

 ance of these two volumes which it will be found that I have 

 not ignored. 



I have to thank my editors for the trouble which they have 

 taken in the revision of the proofs and for many suggestions. To 

 Professor Osborn, of Columbia University, New York, I am indebted 

 for some kind suggestions. My daughter Iris has assisted me 

 in various ways. Finally, I desire to express my indebtedness to 

 Mr. Dixon and to Mr. M. P. Parker for the care which they have 

 taken in the preparation of the figures which were drawn by 

 them especially for this work. 



FRANK E. BEDDARD. 



LONDON, February 28, 1902. 



