210 Biblioyruphical Notices. 



nous to it, comprised in forty-five genera, including fossil as well as 

 recent and introduced animals. New York lies wholly within the 

 temperate zone, and contains more than 4(3,000 square miles. Al- 

 though situate within the same parallels of latitude which include 

 the greater part of Italy, the south of France, and the northern parts 

 of Spain, yet, from the well-established facts of the more southerly 

 position of the isothermal lines on the western shores of the Atlantic, 

 its mean annual temperature cannot be compared with that of the 

 above-mentioned countries, but rather with those lying from 15° to 

 20° farther north. The result of ten years' observations at New 

 York gives 165 days, or about five months, as the mean duration of 

 winter. Few mountains in the state exceed 5000 feet, yet, from the 

 peculiarity of climate, their summits have a temperature much lower 

 than mountains of even higher altitude in coiTCsponding parallels in 

 Europe. The great inland seas, Erie and Ontario, have also their 

 influence on the climate and the productions, while the long gut of 

 land known by the name of Long Island, reaching to the Atlantic, is 

 the extreme southern limit of the migrations of the arctic species, 

 and the most northern termination of the wanderings of the birds of 

 the torrid zone. 



Through the Zoological part the descriptions appear to be care- 

 fully made out. The synonyms are chiefly taken from works relating 

 to the fauna of North America, a more extended list, j^erhaps, being 

 not called for in a work of comparatively provincial character ; but 

 the remarks on the habits of the animals, or their oeconomical and 

 commercial utility, are extremely limited ; these in one view may not 

 be considered strictly scientific, at the same time they are very im- 

 portant. In the description of the beaver it is stated, that in the 

 state of New York this animal is now nearly extirpated, while in 

 little more than 200 years previously (1635), 14,891 skins were ex- 

 ported ; such is the passing away of many of formerly abundant spe- 

 cies. The New York and European beavers are considered identical. 



Among several of the North American animals which have been 

 considered specifically the same with those of Europe by various 

 authors, it is to be regretted that any doubt should still exist in a 

 matter so interesting in their geographical distribution, especially 

 when the communication between the two continents has become 

 so speedy and regular. The Mustela vulgaris, Rich. Faun. Bor. Am., 

 there considered identical with that of Europe, is given as M.pusilla ; 

 but of the ermine, M. Erminea, auct., though given under the spe- 

 cific designation of " Noveboracensis," there still seems to exist a 

 doubt. The sable is given as M. Maries and European synonyms 

 quoted ; and the observation (with which we feel inclined to agree) 

 is made — " I am inclined to believe that the American sable is very 

 distinct from the pine marten of Europe, with which it is usually 

 arranged," and to which is added, " I have no means of making 

 the direct comparison." The American black rat, Miis Americanus, 

 is given as a new species different from the M. Rattiis introduced, 

 varying from it in its dentition, relative length of ears and tail ; it 

 is very rare, only one specimen having been obtained. The new 



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