6 PREFACE. 



spefciesi /'Fjfyjes for classification precede, in general, 

 every cliyjpjpn, These^will enable the pupil to refer any 

 tiiiwwil ;tw jts'oir^e'r/d'iiely'in many instances, to its family and 

 genus ; though it should be borne in mind that the charac- 

 teristics given are applicable to the genera and species 

 described in the text, and not necessarily to all belonging to 

 the family. In addition to these analyses, a tabular view of 

 all the animals treated is inserted in the Appendix. 



It has not seemed best to define each term in the text, but 

 the Index is very full, and contains the explanation, defini- 

 tion, and reference of every ordinary zoological word. As far 

 as possible, each scientific name is followed, in parenthesis, 

 by its translation. To guide in pronouncing the titles of 

 the cut, the quantity of the penult is carefully given. 



Ample directions to the beginner for collecting and pre- 

 serving specimens are given at the close of each division. 

 These, with the hints in the foot-notes, will enable the pupil 

 to undertake the study of Nature understand ingly. 



The author would hereby acknowledge the vital assistance 

 rendered in the preparation of this work by J. W. P. Jenks, 

 A. M., Professor of Agricultural Zoology and Curator of the 

 Museum, Brown "University. His life-long experience and 

 remarkable success in teaching Zoology, together with the 

 wide range of his observations, have alone rendered this book 

 possible. Thanks are returned to J. W. Armstrong, D. D., 

 President Normal School, Fredonia, N. Y. ; F. C. Clark, M. D., 

 Providence, E. I. ; Charles W. Greene, A. M. ; Prof. D. S. 

 Kellicott, Ph. M., Buffalo State Normal School ; and S. G. 

 Love, A. M., Supt. Schools, Jamestown, N. Y., who have 

 read the proofs, and furnished many excellent suggestions. 



Many of the cuts were taken from nature ; the others were 

 selected from the works of Owen, Carpenter, Wood, Milne- 

 Edwards, Jones, Woodward, the Pictorial Museum, etc. A 

 number of our wood-cat illustrations are from Prof. Sanborn 

 Tenney's Natural History Series. 



