12 BULLETIN NO. VII. 



human figures were used in art to a much greater extent than 

 is considered permissible at the present time. While the em- 

 ployment of animal figures for decorative and architectural 

 purposes must be under the constant and rigid surveillance of 

 a sensitive and cultivated taste, it is yet true that the tasteful 

 employment of such forms would enhance the power and widen 

 the field of decorative art among us many fold. The legitimate 

 employment of fancy in combining native, animal and vege- 

 table forms in designs suited to external and internal decora- 

 tion would do much to produce that novelty and variety which 

 at present is achieved at the expense of all ideas of suitability, 

 by patching together fragments of designs from every clime 

 and age. 



Such was the field as it outlined itself before the writer up- 

 on assuming the responsibility of preparing a final report on 

 the mammals of Minnesota. About six months having been 

 abstracted from the twenty-four allotted for the work, it was 

 necessary, not only to omit many of the departments which at 

 first were contemplated, but to restrict others to the briefest 

 possible time. It was obvious from the first that little or noth- 

 ing could be added to the systematic part of the subject, which 

 has had elaborate attention at the hands of specialists, who 

 have access to the vast collections secured by the government. 

 Few contributions relating to the habits of North American 

 mammals could be expected which would not be already fore- 

 stalled from the life-long experience of field naturalists like 

 Audubon and Richardson. Even the collection of synonomy 

 is impossible apart from the libraries of the east. A fruitful 

 field seemed open in the careful study and painstaking descrip- 

 tion of the anatomy of our animals, especially such points as 

 might be of permanent service to the paleontologist. It was 

 therefore resolved to present as complete an account of the 

 osteology of our mammals as time and opportunities would per- 

 mit, and such other anatomical data as could readily be gather- 

 ed at the same time. Circumstances, above alluded to, leave 

 even this task unfinished and the osteological notes must be re- 

 garded as fragmentary material, preparatory to a comprehen- 

 sive osteology of American mammals. 



Such popular material as circumstances have afforded is add- 

 ed, the descriptive matter being, so far as possible, original, 

 although supplemented by whatever seemed desirable in works 

 of previous writers. 



