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is considered permissible at the aa time. “While the em- er 
ployment of animal figures for decorative and architectural ems ; 
’ purposes must be under the constant and rigid surveillance of Pe : 
_asensitive and cultivated taste, it is yet true that the tasteful a “i 
employment of such forms would enhance the power and widen | ea 
the field of decorative art among us many fold. The legitimate n> ot 
employment of fancy in combining native, animal and vege-— Ai a 
table forms in designs suited to external and internal decora- we ‘Z 
tion would do much to produce that novelty and variety which — a 
at present is achieved at the expense of all ideas of suitability, — 
by patching together fragments of designs from every clime — 
and age. rr, 
Such was the field as it outlined itself before the writer up- — 
on assuming the responsibility of preparing a final report on “im a 
the mammals of Minnesota. About six months ae bie! 4 : 
first were Bread otatoa but to restrict others to the prieteeen 
possible time. It was obvious from the first that little or noth; ree 
ing could be added to the systematic part of the subject, which = 
has had elaborate attention at the hands of specialists, who — 
- have access to the vast collections secured by the government. 
Few contributions relating to the habits of North American — 
mammals could be nos which would not be akon fore- — | 
Audubon and Mishntdein: Even the collection of synonomy 
is impossible apart from the libraries of the east. <A fruitful aN 
field seemed open in the careful study and painstaking descrip- 
tion of the anatomy of our animals, especially such points as- ‘ 
might be of permanent service to the paleontologist. It: Was \/ ee 
therefore resolved to present as complete an account of the Begs 
osteology of our mammals as time and opportunities would per- 
mit, and such other anatomical data as could readily be gather- — 
ed at the same time. Circumstances, above alluded to, leave — 
even this task unfinished and the osteological notes must be reer 
garded as fragmentary material, preparatory to a comprehen- | 
sive osteology of American mammals. hs 
Such popular material as circumstances have afforded is add- )/-\. 
ed, the descriptive matter being, so far as possible, original, — 
although supplemented by whatever seemed desirable in works. | 
of previous writers. 
