HAMILTON: MAMMALOGY IN NORTH AMERICA 685 



Since these are career positions, promotions are usually slow, and salaries are 

 not comparable to those of the other professions. 



Positions in the field of mammalogy are not numerous, and the prospective 

 student planning a career in this branch of zoology should examine carefully 

 the opportunities before embarking on a specialized course. Basic training in 

 the natural sciences, including mathematics, geology, chemistry, physics, and 

 the usual undergraduate courses in biology, are a primary requisite to advanced 

 study. Graduate study is desirable, but not of paramount importance if the 

 individual has a broad concept of the field. This is usually acquired during the 

 early years and follows the usual pattern of collecting and an interest in a 

 particular group, be it plant or animal. 



In an interesting report on this subject Miller (1928) stated: 



As now used, the term mammalogy applies primarily to what is known as the sys- 

 tematic study of mammals, the main object of which is to find out exactly how many kinds 

 of mammals there are in the world, exactly where each kind lives, and exactly what are 

 the relationships of these creatures to each other and to their predecessors now gone from 

 the ranks of living things. 



Included are systematics, distribution, and paleontology. Miller's definition 

 of the science of mammalogy does not consider the economics, ecology, and life 

 history of the mammals. The present trend in research is partially evident in 

 a review of the past eleven issues of the Journal of Mammalogy. Of 118 major 

 articles, more than half deal with the life history or habits of mammals, morph- 

 ology accounts for 10 per cent, and systematics and distribution 8.5 per cent 

 respectively. Since there appear to be somewhat fewer publication sources for 

 the accounts of habits than for those on systematics, this evaluation does not 

 give an accurate trend in mammal studies currently in progress. It does, how- 

 ever, suggest the broad interests of the investigators presently engaged in 

 mammal research. 



The advance in our knowledge of systematics and distribution has been 

 particularly gratifying. Nevertheless, a promising field of investigation awaits 

 those who are willing to spend long hours afield, collecting and observing in 

 their natural haunts almost any species of North American mammal. The increas- 

 ing number of young men and women that are being attracted to the study of 

 mammals will surely have a salutary effect on the progress of mammalogy in 

 North America. 



LITERATURE CITED 



Allen, Glover M. 



1942. Extinct and Vanishing Mammals of the Western Hemisphere with the Marine 

 Species of all the Oceans. Spec. Publ. No. 11. vii-xv + 620 pp.; illus. New 

 York: American Comm. for International Wildlife Protection. 



Anderson, Rudolph Martin 



1946. Catalogue of Canadian recent mammals. Nat. Mus. Canada. Bull. 102, pp. 1-238. 



Anthony, Harold E. 



1928. Field Book of North American Mammals, iii-xxvi + 674 pp. 150 figs. 48 pis. 

 New York: G. P. Putnams Sons. 



