PREFACE. / 



zation, and plunged into trackless wilds in search of objects, 

 fraught to them with so much pleasure and delight. To 

 such neither woods, fields, nor marshes are destitute of pleas 

 ing subjects of study and investigation. 



It is peculiarly appropriate and desirable, that in America, 

 which with its uncultivated wilds and untrod deserts com- 

 paratively is a new field of researches for the naturalist, 

 that Natural History should be one of the subjects of general 

 e ducation ; the happy effect of which, if properly conducted, 

 would be, to open upon our infant world ten thousand eager 

 and observing eyes, to watch for undiscovered wonders in 

 ' the book of nature, and to contribute from as many sources 

 to the great reservoir of this yet imperfect science. 



The elaborate work on Natural History prepared and 

 published by authority of the Legislature of New York, is a 

 significant indication of the importance attributed to this 

 branch of knowledge. 



In the preparation of the following work particular pains 

 have been taken to adapt it to the comprehension of be- 

 ginners : first, by the use of the English names and ex- 

 pressions instead of Latin and Greek; and secondly, by 

 confining the description of animals to the most prominent 

 peculiarities, and such as indicate clearly the reason of their 

 particular classification. 



At the end of each class of the vertebrated animals I have 

 added a list of those found in the state of New York, as de- 

 scribed by Doctor James E. De Kay, in his Zoology of New 

 York. 



With respect to the classification of Mammalia, I have 

 brought the orders of Linnaeus, Blumenbach, and Cuvier in 

 accordance, by omitting Cuvier's order of Pachidermata, and 

 putting the Horse, Ass, and Zebra under the order of Soli- 

 dungula, and the Hog, Tapir, Elephant, Rhinoceros, and 

 River-horse under that of Multungula, but adojDting the 

 order Edentata of Cuvier. 



In Ornithology I have followed the system of Cuvier ; in 



