373 



Bibliographical Notices. 



within the confines of Texas, and is somewhat doubtfully referred to 

 the Basypus novem-cinctus of Linnaeus. 



The Pachyderms have also but a single representative, the Collared 

 Peccary, Dicotyles torquatuSy which, it is remarked, *' has a much 

 wider range in North America than is supposed by European syste- 

 matic writers. It not only occurs through Mexico, but even as far 

 north in the United States as the Red River of Arkansas, in lati- 

 tude 34°." 



The Ruminants, however, muster more strongly, being better 

 adapted for residence in the temperate regions of the North. In the 

 first place, we have the Moose, Alee americana. Then two species 

 of Reindeer are admitted under the titles Rangifer caribou and R. 

 groenlandicuSi though it is allowed that their distinctness is question- 

 able. It is highly desirable that accurate investigations should be 

 made as to the difference of these animals inter se, and with the 

 European R. tarandus, which is said to present somewhat corre- 

 sponding variations. The genus Cervus and its subdivisions are 

 represented by no less than six species, which are said to be all truly 

 difl^erent, although the distinctions between Cervus virginianus and 

 C. leucurusy and C. macrotus and C. columbianus require some further 

 elucidation. North America contains only two Antelopes, the * Prong- 

 horn ' (Antilocapra americana), and the so-called * Mountain-goat * 

 (Haplocerus montanus), and a single Sheep, the well-known Big- 

 horn of the Rocky Mountains, Ovis montana. The Musk-ox of the 

 Arctic regions (which, however, does not occur within the limits of 

 the United States), and the Bufl'alo, Bison americanus, conclude the 

 catalogue of North American Ruminants, making up a total of 14 

 animals of this order. What a contrast in this respect does North 

 America present to Africa, where more than 60 species of Antelopes 

 alone are already known to occur, and the list is daily increasing ! 

 For, though we may laugh at Buffon's theory as to the animals of 

 America being merely degraded forms of those of the Old World, 

 there can be no question that the 'Great Continent' is far more 

 productive of animal forms of a more highly organized structure, and 

 of a nature more adapted to meet the various wants of mankind. 



Table of Genera of North American Mammalia, according to 

 Professor Baird. 



