Cuvier's Animal Kingdom by Griffith. 407 



relied on, and to what extent they should be regarded as cap- 

 able of illustrating the natural characters, habits, and instincts. 

 Obtained as all information derived from such a source must be 

 from observing the animals in a captive and consequently artifi- 

 cial state, it is of course far inferior in value to that which is fur- 

 nished by those qualified travellers who have been enabled ia 

 study them in tlie freedom of nature. Mr. Griffilh has therefore 

 very properly endeavoured io avail himself as far as possible of 

 the observations of this latter description of persons, and has had 

 recourse only in the absence of information of this more authentic 

 description, to the works of those whose opportunities have been 

 limited to the animals in confinement. From both these sources 

 he has' drawn freely and with judgment : he has also added 

 occasionally the results of his personal observations and of those of 

 a few intelligent friends, and has thus brought together materials 

 far superior to those which have been hitherto exhibited in works 

 on animal biography. 



In the remaining portions, which are more closely connected 

 with what may be strictly termed the science of Zoologyj nearly 

 the same plan is pursued. The works of the best writers are put 

 in requisition, and the most modern among them being consulted, 

 a more extensive list of species is thus supplied than any which 

 had been previously given. This is further enlarged by the 

 contributions of several able naturalists, and among these of 

 Major Hamilton Smith, to Avhoni the author is indebted for 

 some short but excellent Monographs, and who has moreover 

 promised to furnish the species of the very interesting family of 

 Antelopes, to which he has long paid particular attention, and in 

 which he is better versed than any living Zoologist. In the 

 Synopsis of the species the system of Cuvier is generally fol lowed, 

 the characters and synonyms being carefully selected as well from 

 systematic authors, as from those who have restricted themselves 

 to the elucidation of only single groups or animals, and even from 

 the works of such travellers as have merely described those which 

 fell under their own observation. This section of the w ork, which 

 is separately paged for the purpose of being bound in a distinct 

 form, if it should be considered desirable, will consequently proye 



