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PREFACE 



The present volume is substantially a reprint of a paper 

 forming part of the " Proceedings " of the Eoyal Physical 

 Society for the Session 1890-91 (vol. xi., pp. 85-171). The 

 paper was read at the meeting of the Society on 15th April 

 1891 ; and printed in December, a few additional records and 

 observations being first added to bring it down to date. 



The reproduction of the memoir in its present form is 

 largely due to the representations of a number of friends, 

 who have been good enough to say that it supplies a long 

 felt want, and to suggest that, if issued as a separate volume, 

 its usefulness would be materially increased. Having per- 

 sonally experienced the want of a treatise on the Mammalia 

 of the country surrounding the Scottish metropolis, I have 

 the less hesitation in giving effect to their suggestion. 



For the permission to reprint the paper, I take this 

 opportunity of expressing my sincere thanks to the Council 

 of the Eoyal Physical Society. My best thanks are also due 

 to many friends and correspondents — Mr Eagle Clarke in 

 particular — for valuable assistance rendered in a variety of 

 ways. The information I owe to each has been acknow- 

 ledged, as far as possible, in the text. 



W. E. 



Edinburgh, April 1892. 



