PREFACE. 



THIS work is intended to give a general idea of the 

 Animal Kingdom, especially as it is represented in 

 North America, and thereby to make the learner ac- 

 quainted with the leading facts and principles of the 

 department of Natural History properly called Zoology. 

 In its preparation, I have freely used all the materials 

 at my command, but have taken special pains to con- 

 sult and select from original papers. The general plan 

 of the work is essentially that of Cuvier, with such- modi- 

 fications as have received the sanction of eminent natu- 

 ralists. For the special way in which the plan is carried 

 out, the writer alone is responsible. In treating of the 

 Mammals, I have followed mainly the writings of Cuvier 

 and Baird ; of the Birds, those of Baird, Audubon, and 

 Wilson ; of the Reptiles and Batrachians, those of Hoi- 

 brook, Agassiz, Baird & Girard ; of Fishes, those of 

 Cuvier, Storer, and DeKay ; of Insects, those of Harris 

 and the authors named in connection with each order ; 

 of Crustaceans, those of Dana ; of Worms, those of Cu- 

 vier, Agassiz, and Weinland ; of Mollusks, those of Wood- 

 ward, Gould, and Lea ; of Echinoderms, those of Desor, 

 Agassiz, and Forbes ; of Acalephs, those of Agassiz ; of 



