INTRODUCTION. 



The present volume is intended to serve a double purpose. 

 The comprehensive nature of the law authorizing the Natural 

 History Survey of the state might lead the reader to expect 

 much more than the limited time and means at our disposal 

 made possible. This report, therefore, while putting in per- 

 manent form such data as came to hand during the few months 

 occupied in its preparation, will best serve its purpose if it in- 

 dicates in a general way the kind of observations and records, 

 the nature of the problems and the method of investigation 

 desirable for the future work in this department within the 

 state. The greatest barrier in the way of the preparation of 

 this report was the almost absolute absence of anything like 

 scientific interest in zoology in the state. There were no re- 

 liable data available, nor were there persons prepared to collect 

 such data intelligently. It is a matter of congratulation that a 

 permanent bureau has been established in connection with the 

 University for the prosecution of such studies as naturally fall 

 to the lot of a Natural History Survey, and the general dissemi- 

 nation of the scientific spirit and attainments may yet make it 

 possible to preserve the records of the natural biological 

 phenomena of Minnesota, now rapidly being obliterated by 

 the changed conditions accompanying the encroachments of 

 civilization. 



As a compensation for this loss, however, a not less inter- 

 esting set of problems growing out of the adjustment of the 

 native population to the incoming one presents itself, and these 

 questions have a theoretical as well as practical significance 

 difficult to over-estimate. 



Of course the collection and description of all the species of 

 mammalia still existing in the state is an obvious duty in con- 

 nection with the preparation of such a report. The omissions 

 and errors which of necessity exist in the present essay will 

 soon doubtless be made good by the activity of the Mammalian 

 Branch of the Agricultural Department, U. S. A., under the 

 direction of Dr. C. Hart Merriam. 



s 



-2 



