I'RLFACE. 



The exploration of every new district has afforded 

 ample proof of the existence of species in every de- 

 partment of zoology witli which we were previously 

 unacquainted. Under these circumstances, I do not 

 consider my work to be in any way complete, or 

 tliat it comprises nearly the whole of the Mammals 

 of a country of which so much has yet to be tra- 

 versed; but I bring it to a close after an interval 

 of eighteen years since its commencement, during 

 which constant attention has been given to the sub- 

 ject, as treating upon the genera and species known 

 up to the present time. If my life be prolonged, 

 and the blessing of health be continued to me, I 

 propose, as in the case of the ' Birds of Australia,' 

 to keep the subject complete, by issuing a supple- 

 mentary part, from time to time, should sufficient 

 new materials be acquired to enable me so to do. 



As with regard to my other publications, so also 

 with this, I have to offer my best thanks to many 

 persons for the kind and friendly assistance they 

 have rendered me in prosecuting my labours on the 

 ' Mammals of Australia.' I cannot, therefore, close 

 tliese remarks without recording my obligations to 

 Trofessor Owen, Dr. Gray, and G. 11. Waterhouse, Esq., 

 of the British Museum ; to Tlonald C. Gunn, Esq., of 

 Launceston ; the llev. T. J. Ewing and Dr. Milligan of 

 Hobart Town ; to Dr. Bennett, W. S. MacLeay, Esq., 

 Gerard Krefft, Esq., the late Dr. Ludwig Becker, 

 AV. S. Wall, Esq., the authorities of the Australian 

 Museum, and tlie late Frederick Strange, of Ncav Soutli 

 Wales; to Charles Coxen, Esq., of Queensland ; John 



