Vlll PREFACE. 



and Dr. P. Maclagan; in England from Mr. Alder, Mr. Bean 

 of Scarborough, Mr. Bellamy of Plymouth, and Mr. Gray 

 of the British Museum, and from many other gentlemen 

 in both countries, and in the sister island, whose assistance 

 I have recorded in the text. In Dublin Captain Portlock 

 most liberally permitted me to examine the Ordnance col- 

 lection. To all these gentlemen I return my fervent 

 thanks, also to Professor Agassiz, who most kindly per- 

 mitted me to make use of the notes he had made on the 

 British collections of these animals during his last visit to 

 our country. 



Nor must I forget favours of the pencil. To my friend 

 Mr. Gr. J. Bell the volume is indebted for some of its most 

 interesting embellishments : Mr. Alder and Mr. Thomp- 

 son have also contributed to the ornamental part. The 

 wood-cutting speaks for itself, — thanks to Mr. Bastin, who 

 in the most praiseworthy maimer made himself acquainted 

 not merely with the drawings, but with the texture and 

 appearance of the animals themselves, in order the better 

 to express them. 



With three exceptions the figures of species are from 

 my own drawings, and with a view to secure correctness 

 were mostly drawn on the wood by myself. In the text 

 I have endeavoured faithfully to do justice to preceding- 

 writers, and rarely have quoted a synonym which I have 

 not myself verified. I have endeavoured to bring the 

 subject as near as possible to the present state of science, 

 and trust that few memoirs essential to my purpose have 

 escaped me. I should have wished to have made more 



