INTEODUCTION 



The collection of European Land-mammals in the British 

 Museum consists of about five thousand specimens. One 

 hundred and twenty-four of these are types. It has for the 

 most part been brought together during the past thirty years 

 through the efforts of the late Lord Lilford, of Mr. Oldfield 

 Thomas, and of Major G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton. The older 

 material, though not extensive, includes much that is of historic 

 interest, such as the numerous specimens received from the late 

 Baron E. de Selys-Longchamps, the types of various species 

 described by Gray and Bonaparte, and Darwin's Porto Santo 

 rabbits which have been the subject of so much gi^oundless 

 speculation. It is, however, from the recently-obtained material 

 that the collection derives its true value. These specimens are 

 almost without exception carefully-prepared skins accompanied 

 by skulls and measurements, together with full records of sex, 

 date, and exact locality. The more important sources from 

 which they were obtained are as follows : collections brought 

 together by Professor W. Wolterstorff from central and eastern 

 (jermany, and presented by the late Lord Lilford ; collections 

 made in Roumania by the late E. Dodson under the direction 

 of Major G. E. H. Barrett-Hamilton, and presented by the late 

 Lord Lilford ; material from southern Spain presented by the 

 late Lord Lilford ; extensive collections made in south-western 

 France, in southern Italy and in Sicily by A. Robert and 

 presented by Mr. Oldfield Thomas ; collections from south- 

 central France and the vicinity of Strassburg, Germany, made 

 by C. Mottaz and presented by Mr. O. Thomas ; small collections 

 from Denmark, Holland, Pas-de-Calais, Brittany, Portugal, the 

 Balearic Islands, Switzerland and northern Italy, made and 

 presented by Mr. O. Thomas ; collection from central and 

 northern Spain made by IST. Gonzalez and presented by Mr. O. 

 Thomas ; a large collection from miscellaneous sources brought 

 together and presented by Major G. E. H. Barrett- Hamilton ; 

 a collection from Greece made by C. Mottaz and presented by 



