OP NEW SOUTH WALES. 397 



difficulty to the editor. The Zoological Primer would compre- 

 hend (of the mammals) the genera Man, Dog and Gat, Hog, 

 Ox and Sheep, Horse, Rat, and Rabbit. Of these the den- 

 tition and osteology may be generally demonstrated under the 

 names used in human anatomy, may be readily verified by the 

 pupil, and when once learned will be retained in the memory by 

 continuous observation. The indigenous fauna may be studied 

 as specimens present themselves, under five groups. 1. The 

 Kangaroos, including the wallaby and rat kangaroo. 2. The 

 Phalangers, including the 'possum, native bear, and flying 

 squirrel. 3. The Peramelidae (bandicoot, &c.) 4. The Dasyu- 

 ridse (native cats). 5. The Platypus and Echidna. As in the 

 botanical register, the names of domestic animals, being foreign 

 to the soil, are correct. Many Marsupials, on the contrary, 

 having received their names from persons of excessive ignorance, 

 are known by most misleading appellations. Not to speak of 

 native Cat, native Bear, &c, which may be excused on the same 

 plea as native Rose, we have 'Possum for Phalanger, Tiger Cat 

 for Dasyure, Bandicoot for Perameles, Flying Squirrel for 

 Petaurus, Water- Mole for Platypus, and Porcupine or Hedge 

 Hog for Echidna. The last four misnomers may be extirpated ; 

 the others must, I fear, be tolerated. 



The Birds, Reptiles, and Batrachians present in this respect no 

 difficulty of importance, although we have Turkeys, Curlews, 

 Woodpeckers, &c, in the wrong places, and dignify a harmless 

 Gecko with the appalling title of Rock-scorpion. Selecting as 

 before the most familiar types for specimens, we should note 

 among the Birds, first — Barn-door Fowls, Geese and Ducks, 

 Pigeons, Parrots, and Cockatoos. By use of these all the 

 elementary principles of Ornithology may be established, nothing, 

 as before, being taught which is not capable of verification to 

 the naked eye. Next some of the wild birds, as Crows, Hawks, 

 Laughing-jackass, Mopork, as being common and conspicuous. 

 The Emu and Bustard may be added, chiefly on account of their 

 size. But no more should be attempted. 



