PREFACE vii 



enterprise that promotes inquiry into the structure and conditions of existence 

 of the breathing myriads around us. 



Tlie Publishers have, I think, very wisely determined to devote a rather large 

 proportion of the six volumes of The Royal Natural Histwy to the Mammalian 

 class. Mammals, as of all the animal kingdom approaching man most nearly 

 in structure, are naturally of the greatest interest to him ; thej* are, moreover, in 

 most cases, the first objects likely to attract notice in a strange country, though on 

 this point it nuist be admitted that in some parts of the world Birds run them 

 hard. It can, however, be no matter of complaint on the part of the public in 

 general if two volumes and a half of Tlie Royal Natural History are devoted to 

 Mammals. 



Finally, I may remark that it is now more than ten j-eai-s ago since the last 



general work of Xatural History of this character was published in this country. 



Science moves fast nowadays, and during the past ten years numerous and 



remarkable discoveries have been made in every branch of zoology. These require 



to be annexed and incorporated in a new work. Knowing the energetic character 



of the Editor, how ably he is suppoi-ted in his task, and how well acquainted he 



is with what is going on in every part of the zoological world, I have little 



doubt that The Royal Natural History will be quite up to the present level of 



information in every branch of this wide subject, and will form a Reference Work 



of the highest value. 



P. L. SCLATER. 



3 Hanover Square, London, W. 



