To the READER. 



I Had hinted in the Preface to the third volume of Kahfis 

 Travels, that I could publish but an imperfe6l and 

 small catalogue of North Amei'ican animals ; and there- 

 fore declined to give it. Since that time, I have been 

 pressed by some worthy friends to publish that catalogue, 

 such as it is ; and what is still more, I have been favoured 

 with ample materials by a Gentleman, who is forming a 

 colleftion for a Natural History of No)'th America, and 

 hopes by this to incite the inquisitive and learned resident 

 in that countr}', to search, and to transmit to their friends 

 in England, the produ61ion of their several provinces. 

 The Zoology of the first four classes of animals in Great 

 Britain, has been very accurately and compleatly pub- 

 lished ; that of the country of the descendants of Great- 

 Britain ought with most propriety to follow, as it interests 

 the Mother Country most. These reasons had a great 

 weight with me ; and I ofifer this small catalogue merely as 

 an essay towards forming a more compleat Natural History 

 of that extensive continent. To instru6l the Collectors, 

 I have added to this list some short dire6lions for the best 

 method of preserving and transporting the various subje6ls 

 of Natural History. 



The Quadrupeds of this list are referred to the Synopsis 

 of Quadrupeds of Mr. Pennant ; the Birds, Fish, Reptiles, 

 Inse6ls, and Crustacea, to Linnceus, Brisson, Mr, Edwards, 



and 



