WORKS UPON QUADRUPEDS. 357 



our native quadrupeds, is a wide and much-neglected 

 field for interesting observation, carrying with it a 

 degree of popular information, which interests both the 

 man of science and the general reader. 



(440.) There is no work in our language on the na- 

 tural arrangement of quadrupeds ; and all those which 

 are intended to describe the species, are expensive. The 

 best arrangement you can at present follow is that of 

 Cuvier's " Animal Kingdom." Keep it as a book 

 of reference ; as such it is invaluable : but, if you 

 wish to follow up the views exhibited in this volume, 

 the less you burthen your memory with the details 

 of the arrangement in the " Regne Animal," the better. 

 Quadrupeds may probably form the next volume of 

 this series : but, if you are in a hurry, procure Cuvier ; 

 for to him I shall very frequently refer. As for spe- 

 cies, I am really unprepared to say which of the many 

 cheap compilations now publishing is the best. Be- 

 wick's quadrupeds, however, is a standard book, not- 

 withstanding its obsolete names and occasional errors. 

 Lesson's fc Manuel," in French, is useful; but Desmarest 

 much better. Of works with coloured figures, several 

 have been published on the Continent, particularly in 

 France ; but they are, of course, partial in their range, 

 and very expensive. One of these, by Professor Tem- 

 minck *, however, is within a moderate sum, and is ab- 

 solutely essential to every one who studies mammalogy. 

 You will perceive that upon the teeth of quadrupeds 

 most of the modern arrangements are founded ; and as 

 the different forms of these organs are often very difficult 

 to be expressed by words, yet may be rendered imme- 

 diately intelligible by figures, I should recommend your 

 procuring the valuable octavo volume of Frederick 

 Cuvier, brother to the great anatomist, where you will 

 find nearly all the modern genera illustrated by ad- 

 mirable plates of their teeth, exhibited in different posi- 



* Temminck, Monographes de Mammalogie, ou Descriptions de quel- 

 ques Genres de Mammiferes dont les Species ont t6 observes dans les 

 differens Musees de 1'Europe. 1 vol. 4to. in seven numbers. 



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