THE HISTORY OF THE 

 EUROPEAN FAUNA. 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



/ EVERY student of natural history, whether he be 

 ' interested in birds, butterflies, or shells, contributes 

 his share of facts which help to show how the fauna 

 of his country has originated. The capture of a 

 Swallow-tail or of a Marbled White Butterfly in Eng- 

 land at once furnishes material for reflection as to the 

 reason of its absence from Scotland and Ireland. 

 Why should the Nightingale allow its beautiful song 

 to be heard in England, and never stray across 

 the Channel to the sister isle or cross the borders of 

 North Britain? Lovers of bird-life and sportsmen, 

 who have observed the habits of the Ptarmigan in the 

 wild mountain recesses of Scotland, are aware that 

 nowhere else in the British Islands do we meet with 

 this interesting member of the grouse family, and 

 many no doubt have allowed their minds to dwell 

 upon the causes of its singularly local distribution. 



