500 AUTHENTIC HISTORY 



DIYISIO:^ IX. 



PHYSICAL. 



INTRODUCTOEY.i 



It was at first thought to give a sliort descrii^tive history of the natural objects 

 found within the limits of Lancaster County, but this was soon found to be impractica- 

 ble. The species and varieties are too numerous to be described in detail, except in a 

 work specially devoted to that purpose. Moreover, comparatively few of them have 

 received common names, except the quadrupeds, birds, reptiles and a few of the fishes. 

 Therefore, the work has been chiefly confined to giving lists of the names of species, 

 their classes, orders and families, with the leading characteristics of their main divi- 

 sions, and occasionally of some of their sub-divisions. Objections may be made to a 

 long aiTay of Latin names, as of little or no use to the general reader, but if those who 

 are at all interested in these matters, have a desire to form any acquaintance with the sub- 

 ject, they will ultimately have to learn the import of these names, in order that they may 

 be enabled to take an intelligent view of the objects they comprehend. It is true, that 

 the value of common names, among the common people, ought, perhaps, not be entirely 

 ignored; but these, in the greater number of instances, are so confused, and so local in 

 their significance, that they cannot be depended upon in their general application; more- 

 over, the time will eventually come in the history of our scientific literature and edu- 

 cational systems, when this apparently objectionable feature of Natural history, will no 

 longer be regarded as a stumbling block, but as an efficient means to facilitate its pro- 

 gress. These catalogues, therefore, published as part of the History of Lancaster 

 County, may come before a greater number of people, and in a cheaper form than is 

 usual through the publications of Scientific associations. They may contain many 

 errors and omissions, and may also include some species that have not been fvilly iden- 

 tified with their assumed locality; but these may be corrected, supplied, or eliminated 

 by the student of our local history, as he acquires the necessary proficiency to do so, 

 without effecting any special scientific demoralization. 



CLASS MAMMALIA.i 



This class includes the four-footed animals or quadrrtpeds. The females bring forth 

 their young alive, and suckle them until they are old enough to provide for themselves. 

 The very name implies that the females have teats and secrete milk, and the term 

 "mamma," for mother, among human beings, is derived from the name of this class. 

 If an aboriginal naturalist had been called upon to make out a catalogue of the animals 

 of this class, when he roamed in undisturbed possession of the domain of our county, 

 and had transmitted it to successive generations, it no doubt would have contained 

 many species that are now extinct in the county. Although the deer, the bear, the 

 wolf, and perhaps also the panther and the beaver, were found in this county within 

 my lifetime — a period of some fifty years — yet at the present time these animals are un- 

 known to our territory. Others, in the following list, are also becoming rare, perhaps 

 1 Contributed by Mr. S. S. Rathvon. > 



