56 



denominations, and calling it therefore by its Algon- 

 quin name, Whabus, to keep it distinct from these. 

 Kahii is of the same opinion.* I have enumerated the 

 squirrels according to our own knowledge c5erived from 

 the daily sight of them, because lam not able to recon- 

 cile with that the European appellations and descrip- 

 tions. I have heard of other species but they have 

 never come within my own notice. These, 1 think, 

 are the only instances in which I have departed from 

 the authority of Mons. de BufTon in the construction of 

 this table. I take him for my ground work, because I 

 think him the best informed of any naturalist who has 

 ever written. The result is, that there are 18 quadru- 

 peds peculiar to Europe ; more than four times as many, 

 to wit 74, peculiar to America: that thef first of these 

 74 weighs more than tlje whole column of Europeans ; 

 and consequently this second table (lis[)roves the second 

 member of the assertion, that the animals peculiar to 

 the new world are on a smaller scale, so far as that as- 

 sertion relied on European animals for support: and it 

 is in full opposition to the theory which makes the ani- 

 mal volume to depend on the circumstances of heat and 

 jnoistute. 



The third table comprehends those quadrupeds only 

 which are domestic in both countries. That some of 

 these, in some parts of America have become less than 



sessing so nearly the chainclers of llie elk, be found to be the 

 same with the Cerf d'Ardennes or Brandhiriz of Germany, still 

 there will lemalii the three species first enumerated. 



* Kalm 11.340, I. 8^. 



t The Tapir is the largest of the animals peculiar to Ame- 

 rica. 1 collect his weight thus. Mons. de Bufton says, XXIII, 

 274, that he is of the size of a Zebu, or a small cow. He gives 

 us the measures of a Zebu, ib. 94. as taken by himself, viz. 5 feet 

 7 inches from the muzzle to the root of the tail, and 5 feet 1 inch 

 circumference behind the fore legs. A bull, measuring in the 

 same way G feet 9 inches and 5 feet 2 inches, weighed 6001b, 

 VIII. 153. The Zebu then, and of course the Tapir, would 

 weigh about 5001b. But one individual of every species of Eu- 

 ropean peculiars would probably weigh less than 4C01b. These 

 are French measures and weights. 



