VJll 



INTRODUCTION 



their presence to artificial introduction, are treated mono- 

 graphically on the basis of the material already enumerated. 

 This material has been found sufficient, in most of the groups, to 

 give what appears to be a fairl}?- satisfactory idea of the essential 

 features of the fauna. In the ungulates and the larger car- 

 nivores, however, it is so totally inadequate that no attempt 

 could be made to revise the genera by which they are repre- 

 sented. This is especially to be regretted on account of the fact 

 that some of these larger mammals are nearly extinct, while 

 others are being modified by the introduction of foreign stock 

 to replenish exhausted game preserves. Immediate action is 

 necessary if the final opportunity to gain a clear understanding 

 of this part of the European fauna is not to be lost. 



The literature of European mammals is so voluminous, 

 particularly as regards local lists and special notes on distri- 

 bution, and it is for the most part based on conceptions of 

 species and local races so diflerent from those underlying the 

 present work, that an amount of labour incommensurate with 

 the importance of the results would be required to prepai'e 

 extended bibliographical Tallies for each form recognized. The 

 citations are, therefore, restricted to those which seem of impor- 

 tance in giving a clear idea of the systematic history of each 

 animal ; that is, to the specific and sub-specific names under 

 which it may have been described, to the first use of the actual 

 binomial or trinomial here adopted, to the names used in the 

 monographic works of Blasius, 1857, and Trouessart, 1910, and 

 to any other publication which might seem pertinent to a 

 particular case. 



In deciding questions of nomenclature, an attempt has been 

 made to apply the International Code and the rulings of the 

 Commission strictly and consistently, even to the reluctant 

 acceptance of the terms applied to genera by authors who 

 followed a system diiferent from that now in use. 



With the exception of figure 121, lent by the Smithsonian 

 Institution, all the illustrations are original. The drawings of 

 teeth were made in London by Mr. A. J. Engel Terzi ; part 

 of those of the skulls were made by Mr. Tei'zi ; the rest were 

 done in Washington by Mr. H. B. Bradford. 



A few words in conclusion regarding the actual making of 

 the manuscript. I prepared all the descriptions, synonymies, 

 lists of specimens examined, and Tables of cranial measurements. 

 The external measurements, which are not to be regarded as 



