62 INTRODUCTION. 



Rabbit is located here and there in most districts. 

 Lastly, our two Ruminantia, the Red Deer and 

 the Roe, are much more plentiful in Scotland than 

 in England, where, indeed, the former scarcely 

 exists in a truly wild state. 



Of these animals, few can be considered as di- 

 rectly uesful to Man, although doubtless, all being 

 subservient to some important purpose in the eco- 

 nomy of nature, indirectly promote his interests. 

 In an economical point of view, we may discard 

 all the Cheiroptera and Insectivora ; the terrestrial 

 Carnivora rank as vermin ; and the whole tribe of 

 Rats and Mice would gladly be dispensed with. 

 The Seals afford an occasional supply of oil, and 

 their skins are useful for various purposes, and 

 especially for covering trunks. The Rabbit and 

 Common Hare are generally esteemed as articles 

 of food, and their fur is used in the manufacture of 

 hats, as is that of the Otter ; the Deer, being now 

 limited in number, and of more importance as sub- 

 servient to the amusement of the wealthy, than as 

 contributing to the general benefit. The Fox and 

 the Hare are favourite objects of the chase. The 

 most directly injurious to Man are the Rats and 

 Mice, which often commit great havoc among 

 corn, stores, and articles of domestic consumption; 

 the Mole, which, by its excavations, injures the 

 pastures, lawns, and fields ; and the Martens and 

 Weasels, as well as the Fox, which sometimes de- 

 stroy poultry and young lambs. 



The following synoptical arrangement of the 

 genera and species may be useful in enabling the 

 student readily to discover the name of any quad- 

 ruped which he may obtain. 



