PREFACE 
N PREPARING the present volume the aim has been to produce 
| a work sufticiently free from technicalities to appeal to the 
general reader and at the same time to include such scientific 
information relative to our North American mammals as would be 
desired by one beginning their study. The key at the end 
of the volume will be found of service in indentifying unfamiliar 
mammals, and inchides certain characters omitted from the body 
of the book. As « guide to further study there has been appended 
a bibliography of the principal works on North American 
mammals. 
To many of these | would express my indebtedness, especially 
to the writings of Allen, Merriam, Miller, Bangs and Rhoads, 
und also my acknowledgments to the Academy of Natural 
Sciences of Philadelphia and Mr. Samuel N. Rhoads for the privi- 
lege of studying the specimens contained in their collections. 
The text figures are all reproduced from = standard works, 
while the plates are largely from the brush or camera of Mr. 
A. Radclyffe Dugmore, whose name is so intimately connected 
with illustrations of nature. 
The publishers wish to acknowledye the many courtesies and 
the helpful codperation of the New York Zoological Society and _ its 
Director, Wm. |. Hornaday, Esq.; many of the photographs made 
at the Zoological Park could not have been secured elsewhere. 
The same is true of the Washington Zoological Park, in) which 
Mr. Dugmore made a number of pictures. 
WITMER STONE. 
September 7, 10902. 
