16 



AN EPITOME OF AFRICAN ZOOLOGY j 



OR, 



A CONCISE DESCRIPTION OF THE OBJECTS 



OF 



THE ANIMAL KINGDOM INHABITING AFRICA, 

 ITS ISLANDS AND SEAS : 



By A. SMITH, M.D. 3LW.S. ^c. 



At the Ordinary Monthly Meeting of the Council of the South 

 African Literary and Scientific Lnstitution, on Wed- 

 nesday, 7th August 1833, it was resolved, — " That, in order to 

 promote the study of Natural History in this country, and an 

 acquaintance generally with its productions, Dr. Smith be re- 

 quested to draw up an Epitome of the Zoology of Africa from 

 his personal Observations and Researches, or from such other 

 sources of Information as may here be available for that pur- 

 pose." 



The want of something like that suggested in the Resolution 

 just quoted has long been experienced, and nothing but the 

 absence of proper means for such a purpose has hitherto pre- 

 vented me from attempting to furnish it. Much information 

 is doubtless to be obtained from the various systematic works on 

 Zoology, but in them it is so mixed and scattered that but few 

 individuals here would have either patience or leisure to search 

 out that which actually belongs to this quarter. 



Under such circumstances the only step that could be resorted 

 to with a prospect of remedying or rather lessening the existing 

 evil, is that which has been recommended, namely — the bringing 

 together into a small and connected form all that is within our 

 reach, under a hope that those enjoying more extensive oppor- 

 tunities will be inclined to supply the deficiencies. This I have 

 endeavoured to accomplish, and thoush the compilation will not 

 furnish a complete list and description of the objects of the 

 animal kingdom which inhabit Africa, yet it will go farther 

 towards that than any single work yel produced. The details 

 which relate to South Africa will be found tolerably complete, 

 liaving been supplied from personal obser\ation, whilst those 

 whicli refer to other parts will be found more deficient, having 

 been collected from limited and iucfflcicut sources of infurmatiou. 



