PEEFACE 



THE present volume is substantially a reprint of a paper 

 forming part of the " Proceedings " of the Eoyal Physical 

 Society for the Session 1890-91 (vol. xi., pp. 85-171). The 

 paper was read at the meeting of the Society on 15th April 

 1891 ; and printed in December, a few. additional records and 

 observations being first added to bring it down to date. 



The reproduction of the memoir in its present form is 

 largely due to the representations of a number of friends, 

 who have been good enough to say that it supplies a long 

 felt want, and to suggest that, if issued as a separate volume, 

 its usefulness would be materially increased. Having per- 

 sonally experienced the want of a treatise on the Mammalia 

 of the country surrounding the Scottish metropolis, I have 

 the less hesitation in giving effect to their suggestion. 



For the permission to reprint the paper, I take this 

 opportunity of expressing my sincere thanks to the Council 

 of the Eoyal Physical Society. My best thanks are also due 

 to many friends and correspondents Mr Eagle Clarke in 

 particular for valuable assistance rendered in a variety of 

 ways. The information I owe to each has been acknow- 

 ledged, as far as possible, in the text. 



W. E. 



EDINBURGH, April 1892. 



2090890 



