204, TEN YEARS IN SWEDEN 



that it would not be a waste of time if I added a short 

 description of each species. I believe this chapter will 

 be found of use to the British, as well as the Scandinavian 

 naturalist, as many of the Scandinavian species belong to 

 the British fauna. 



Whether or not this list will prove as useful to the field 

 naturalist, as I confidently anticipate that it will, I can 

 answer for one thing, which is, that it will be found to 

 contain the best, if not the only complete account of the 

 fauna of the north of Europe, which has ever been laid before 

 the British naturalist ; and I trust that as a work of reference 

 in establishing the geographical limits of different species, 

 it will be valuable to zoologists of all classes. 



Of course I cannot lay claim to much originality in this 

 part of the work. It is, in fact, a compilation from beginning 

 to end ; but nevertheless, a compilation prepared with an 

 immense deal of trouble, labour, and close attention. To 

 take Nilsson's " Fauna" in hand, and merely give a list of such 

 animals as are met with in Scandinavia, would have been a 

 very simple affair, but to refer to the best authorities on the 

 fauna of four large northern countries, as well as of Great 

 Britain, to compare them with each other, to see how far 

 their observations tallied with my own experience, and then 

 to pick out from all, the best and shortest account of the 

 different species, with its easiest and most reliable specific 

 distinctions, was a work of no little labour. It is, however, 

 now done, and if any trifling mistakes have crept in, which 

 is probably the case, I trust they will be kindly overlooked 

 by the reader. They are not many, I am certain, for I have 

 taken every possible pains with my task. However, as Dr. 

 Johnson wisely observes, ' ' He that has much to do will do 

 something wrong, and of that wrong must take the con- 

 sequence." I am therefore induced thus early in the day 

 to throw myself upon the kind consideration of the reader, 

 and beg him to overlook any little inaccuracies which he 

 may detect, not only in this, but in the foregoing chapters, 

 for my task throughout has been one of no ordinary labour. 



Before commencing this list, I beg to make my acknow- 



