64 Geographical Distribution of Species. 



§ III. We cannot too stronglj^ urge the zoologists of the 

 expedition to determine, as exactly as possible, the geographi- 

 cal distribution of the various species, whether of the Euro- 

 pean or the Arctic Fauna. By completing, in this important 

 point of view, their own observations by information acquired 

 from other zoologists, and also from the hunters of the country, 

 they will bring together materials of the utmost value, for deter- 

 mining the limits where our European species cease to occur, 

 and where the Arctic species begin to appear. This question, 

 no doubt, is not susceptible of a simple and general solution, — 

 the European Fauna not being suddenly displaced, to give way 

 to an Arctic one. It is partial solutions only that can be sought ; 

 and so difficult is the subject, that even these we cannot ex- 

 cept in a certain number of instances, ntitvvithstanding the 

 confidence we place in the zeal of the zoologists of the expe- 

 dition, and the readiness with which M. Nilsson and his fel- 

 \o\v countrymen will second their efforts. But the examples for 

 which we shall be indebted to them, however few in number, 

 cannot fail to be of real interest to science, if they are weW 

 selected : that is to say, if they relate to well-determined spe- 

 cies, about which no uncertainty can arise. It appears to us, 

 that one of the means of attaining this object is, to fix on spe- 

 cies the knowledge of which is not confined to persons learned 

 in zoology alone, but which, on the contrary, have attracted 

 general attention by some circumstances in their organization 

 or habits. By this means the number of persons who may be 

 consulted with advantage, will become much more consider- 

 able. In regard to species of small size, and no way remark- 

 able for their internal characters or manners, zoologists alone 

 can give information ; huntsmen, on the contrary (and the 

 chase as every one knows is the principal occupation of a consi- 

 derable portion of the inhabitants of Scandinavia), maj^ be con- 

 sulted safely and profitably, whou the point is to determine, 

 for example, how far the common fox, hare, or French miis- 

 tela, advance northwards ; or how far southwards the isatis, 

 changeable hare, and the zibeline extend. That the first suc- 

 ceed immediately to the second, — that they are separated from 

 each other by a greater or less interval, — or, finally, that they 

 co-exist in some places, and so to speak, meet each other on 



