INTRODUCTION. 



" THE advantages of local Faunas," says Professor 

 Bell,* " are too generally understood and acknow- 

 ledged to require any lengthened proof or illus- 

 tration. 



" It may, indeed, be doubted whether the study 

 of the animals of particular tracts of country have 

 not contributed, more than any other means, to 

 the advancement of Zoological knowledge, espe- 

 cially as regards those important branches of it, 

 the geographical distribution of animals, and the 

 influence of climate, of soil, and of other local 

 circumstances, in determining the range of species, 

 the changes of varieties, and the extent and periods 

 of migration." 



From time to time there have issued from the 

 press various local Natural Histories ; but no 



* ' History of British Quadrupeds,' 



811995 



