
- as is necessary to formulate a scientific definition, but from men- 
talimages of various mammals and these concrete images com- 
__ monly are more or less clearly or vaguely implied even in the ab- 
_-stractnotion mammal. Such abstractions are only inso far valu- 
able as they serve as keys to admit us with promptitude to that 
chamber of our memory where are stored the various concrete 
images which experience has gathered and which may be com- 
‘pared with each other and thus produce an indefinite series of 
oe 
abstract notions, varying in extension without altering the 
; Be auto. conceptions of concrete things in the least. A 
- Classification is in fact nothing but just such a series of gen- 
eral notions and is, therefore, capable of being extended to any 
number of terms, not greater than the number of the individu- 
_ als classified which are not positively identical. The person, 
_ then, who desires to become conversant with zoology, or any 
other branch of natural history, must strive to gather as great a 
number of clear individual images of as great a variety of ob- 
jects as his mental classification will enable him to retain 
without confusion. 
It will be our aim then to present a verbal and pictorial image 
of all the mammals in our state, hoping to thus impart more 
real information than would be derived from lengthy and per- 
chance learned discussions of the principles of classification or 
_ theories of derivation or development. 
_ .The following statistics will briefly summarize the mammal- 
- ian population of our state: 
iomumNer Of species known to-exist:....2..00 Jed we eae de eemels 63 
2. Species rapidly approaching extinction .....5 0.0... cece cece eee eccer 8 
3. Species increasing in abundance........-....... eee cece et eee ee eee es 6 
4, Species of economic ANAS ais ys AR yo eidic Rakinly Os Cte ene ja ak 
5. Species which may be regarded as injurious................- 0000000: 24 
6. Species having northern or sub-arctic affinity ................ e000 ee 6 
Paieispecies having a western affinity........0.,..0.. 00 sd0e Dr iadieee toa eel Oem 8 
=). 8. Species belonging to the eastern province......./.c.ccceeneeiceecwes 25 
{ 9. Species of general distribution in North America................-5. 24 
Of course in a relative matter of this sort opinion would vary 
as to the inclusiveness of one or other of the categories; the 
above table will merel y indicate the approximate state of the 
Qo. fauna. 
_ Among mammals either actually extinct in our limits or like- 
__ly to be so may be mentioned the buffalo, prong-horn, beaver, 
wolverine, elk, caribou, gray gopher, and panther. The in- 

troduced species of mice and rats are on the constant increase, 
