INTRODUCTION. IX. 



enabling us to compare them with genera and species existing 

 in America. To Professor Leavis R. Gibbes, of the College 

 of Charleston, we e.xpress our thanks, for several specimens 

 of rare quadrupeds, and for his Idndness in imparting to us 

 much information and scientific knowledge. 



Among others to whose zeal and friendship ' we are most 

 indebted, we are proud to name : Dr. Geo. C. Shattttck and 

 Dr. Geo. Parkman, of Boston ; J. Prescott Hall, Esq., James 

 G. King, Esq., Major John Leconte, Mr. J. G. Bell, and 

 our old friend Issachar Cozzens, of New York ; Hon. Daniel 

 Wadsworth, of Hartford ; W. O. Ayres, Esq., of Sag Har- 

 bour, Long Island ; Edward Harrls, Esq., of Moorestown, 

 New Jersey ; Dr. Samuel George Morton and Samuel 

 BisPHAM, Esq., of Philadelphia ; Wm. Case, Esq., Cleveland, 

 Ohio ; Ogden Ha.mmond, Esq., of South Carolina ; Gideon 

 B. Smith, Esq., M. D., of Baltunore ; Messrs. P. Chouteau, 

 Jr. & Co., St. Louis ; Sir George Simpson, of the Hudson's 

 Bay Fur Company ; John Martyn, Jr., Quebec ; Mr. Fo- 

 thergill, of Canada, &c., &c., &c. 



In the course of this work we shall not indulge ourselves 

 in the formation of new genera farther than we may find it 

 necessar)^, and we think the genera at present estabhshed will 

 include nearly all our species : we shall change no names of 

 species abeady given, except in cases where their being re- 

 tained would lead to error. 



We will endeavour to avoid a mischievous habit, into which 

 many naturalists have falleu,- who, by the formation of new 

 genera, considered themselves entitled to add their own after 

 the specific name, thus taking credit for discoveries to which 

 they were not entitled ; on the contrary, as it appears ne- 



B 



