468 



HISTORY OF 



em part of the county, but not having a specimen, are unable tcr 

 name it with certainty. 



English names are given to such animals as have received 

 them, and short notes have been added to some of the species 

 to enable the reader to recognize them ; but it would have 

 extended this article to too great a length to follow out this plan 

 to any considerable extent. The objects are so numerous, 

 that in must cases, a dry list uf names must sullice ; as the 

 reader who wishes to know more about the object themselves, 

 must refer to works expressly devoted to their history. Some 

 of these arc noted at the foot of the pages ; but unfortunately 

 several of the more important branches are still unillustrated, 

 as the fishes and insects ; and much as works devoted to these 

 branches are wanted, it is probable that little will be done until 

 the necessity calls forth the patronage of legislative enact- 

 ment, as in Massachusetts and New York. 



Our vertebrate animals, except tiie fishes, are pretty well 

 know n to naturalists, and the number of species found within the 

 borders of the county, may be stated approximately as follows : 

 Beasts, 30; Birds, ISO; Reptiles, 40 ; Fishes, 50. 



Among the Mammalia, the Cervus Virginianus (deer) might 

 have been included, as it sometimes crosses the Susquehanna 

 from York county. The Lutra Canadensis (otter) is said to 

 have inhabited liie islands of the Susquehanna at an early 

 day; and within ten years, a species of wolf has crossed the 

 same river from the western side. 



But the greater part of the zoology of most countries, is that 

 which takes cognizance of the Annulosa, including the exten- 

 sive class of Ptilota or winged insects; the Akachnida, or 

 spiders; the Crustacea, of which the crab and lobster are 

 familiar examples, and of which class all our springs and 

 streams contain species, some of them so minute, as to be re- 

 cognized with dilliculty by the naked eye ; and the class Ame- 

 TOBOLA, represented by the cenlipedcs found under stones and 

 logs. 



Taking all these together, the number to be found in Lan- 

 caster county, cannot fall short of six thousand species; the 

 Ptilota or \. inged insects being the most numerous, and of 

 these, the order Colcoptcra (distinguished by having the wing*- 

 folded under a pair of bard elytra) is the most extensive ; and 



