62 ON THE GEOGRAPHY OF ANIMALS. 



(86.) The ducks, and other swimming families,, are 

 nearly the same in both continents ; but very few of the 



American waders re- 

 ^^ semble those of Europe. 

 The grouse of the two 

 continents, inhabiting the 

 same parallels of latitude, 

 are still more distinct ; 

 only one, or at most two, 

 having been found in 

 Europe and America. 

 The commonest of these 

 is the Tetrao Canadensis L., or Canadian grouse (fig. 20.); 

 about the size of the red game, but with the throat and 

 breast glossy black. 



(87.) Respecting the other animals of this part of 

 America nothing can yet be stated, since the researches of 

 Dr. Richardson, whose valuable remarks have furnished 

 the materials of the foregoing results, are not yet before 

 the public; and little reliance can be placed on the 

 erroneous compilations and crude theories regarding 

 American zoology, which heretofore have been our only 

 guides. Few naturalists have done as much, and, 

 perhaps, none have done more, towards elucidating the 

 zoological distribution of animals of this country, than 

 the diligent observer above named : his simple and un- 

 pretending narrative has cleared from our systems a 

 mass of " learned error " and unintelligible nomencla- 

 ture, which will sink our former authorities upon Arctic 

 /oology into oblivion. The entomological collections of 

 the northern expeditions, fortunately for science, have 

 been placed by Dr. Richardson in the hands of Mr. 

 Kirby, who has now been engaged some years in pre- 

 paring this volume for the press 



(88.) The second or temperate region of the American 

 province comprehends the whole of the United States, 

 with a considerable portion, probably, of the north-west 

 coast ; while its termination (much better understood 

 than its northern limits) is marked by the Gulf of 



