470 HISTORY OP 



times happens that authors use neither the proper nor the 

 common name of an animal, but adopt one, perhaps entirely- 

 unknown to those best acquainted with it. 



The scientific appellation is the only true name of a plant or 

 an animal, as no other will answer our principal purpose, that 

 of giving a distinct name to every organized object. Nothing 

 is gained by naming certain insects weavil, hammerbug or 

 schnellkaefer, when there are more than a hundred different 

 kinds of each in Pennsylvania, each of which has its proper 

 name. We call an insect the rose bug, but this n ime will not 

 enable us to discover the true appellation under which it may 

 be found in European books, whether English, French or Ger- 

 man. A little consideration upon this subject will convince 

 any one that an animal or plant is not properly known until 

 we are acquainted with its name, and every one interested in 

 the study of zoology or botany, should endeavor to become 

 familiar with the proper names. Naturalists themselves are 

 often to blame in this matter, from a jealousy that the public 

 at large will finally become as wise as themselves ; and they 

 accordingly invent English names which they set forth in large 

 capitals, so that the proper names will be less likely to attract 

 attention. 



MAMMAIJA*— Beasts. 



Four species of bat occur in Lancaster county, viz : 

 Vespertilio Carolinensis; chesnut brown above, yellowish 

 beneath: V. Noveboracensis; reddish brown : V. pruinosus; 

 fur dark, tipped with white: V. subulatus] Scalups Cana- 

 densis; mole. Condylura macroura; star-nose mole. Sorex 

 brcvicaudus; found along water courses, where it constructs 

 burrows in the grass. Procyon lotor; the raccoon is not un- 

 common in some parts of the county. Mustela erminea; de- 

 scribed under this name by Godman, and usually called weasel. 

 Mustela lutreola ; mink. Mephitis Americana; the skunk or 

 polecat. Vulpes fulvus; red fox: V. cinereo-argentalus; grey 

 fox. Didelphis Virginiana ; possum, incorrectly named o'pos- 



*Anicrican Natural History, by John D. Godman, 3 vols. 8 vo. plates. 



