MATERIALS FOR A FAUNA CANADENSIS. 447 



he finds, if known ; and if he is so fortunate as to meet with any- 

 thing new, may have the means of knowing it to be so, that he may 

 communicate his observations upon it without fear of merely repeat- 

 ing what others have done, and perhaps creating useless names, which 

 encumber the science he wishes to advance. To a beginner in the 

 study of Nature, nothing can be more discouraging than to have to 

 search out every object in the most extensive general works (provided 

 he is so fortunate as to have access to them) because there is as yet 

 no attempt at a list of the productions of his country, where the 

 limited number would facilitate his investigations. 



Those who contribute local catalogues in any department of Natural 

 History, render important assistance : but something more is re- 

 quired. It has occurred to me that the publication in this Journal 

 of fragmentary portions of a provisional Fauna Canadensis might 

 contribute not a little both to assist the cultivators of Zoological 

 Science and to accumulate useful materials for future labourers who 

 may be enabled to attempt what would now be premature, — a general 

 systematic work on Canadian Zoology. By a provisional Fauna, we 

 mean a systematic arrangement with the essential characters of all 

 such genera and species as have either, to our knowledge, actually 

 been found in Canada, or are deemed very likely to be found there — 

 being known as inhabitants either of the more northern or the im- 

 mediately southern regions. In this way, without pretending to be 

 yet in a condition to oifer any reliable account of all the living crea- 

 tures inhabiting our country, we may afford useful assistance to those 

 who are disposed to examine them, and by their labours thus assisted 

 our conjectural list will gradually change into an authenticated record 

 of observed facts. Many, who without such aid could do nothing, or 

 would remain insulated collectors, unable to determine whether what 

 they obtained was known or unknown, scarce or familiar, would be at 

 once enabled, with a great increase to their own enjoyment from the 

 study of Nature, to become contributors to scientific knowledge ; — to 

 assist in determining the range of species, and to call attention to 

 hitherto undescribed forms. 



There may be branches of Natural History in which the advances 

 already made, as well as the extent and general interest of the sub- 

 jects, would warrant the publication of volumes specially dedicated to 

 their illustration. I have already announced my desire, restrained 

 only by necessary considerations of prudence, of publishing from ma- 



VOL. VII. 2 A 



