VUl. INTRODUCTION. 



though we have spared neither time, labour, nor expense, in 

 collecting materials for this undertaking. 



We have had our labours lightened, however^- by many ex- 

 cellent friends and gentlemen in different portions of the 

 country, who have, at great trouble to themselves, procured 

 and sent us various animals — forwarded to us notes upon the 

 habits of different species, procured works on the subject 

 otherwise beyond our reach, arid in many ways excited our 

 warmest feelings of gratitude. Mr. J. K. Townsend, of Phila- 

 delphia, allowed us to use the rare and valuable collection 

 of Quadrupeds which he obtained during his laborious re- 

 searches on the western prairies, the Rocky Mountains, 

 and in Oregon, and furnished us with his notes on their 

 habits and geograpliical distribution. Spexcer F. Baird, Esq., 

 of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, aided us by carefully searching 

 various hbraries for notes and information in regard to species 

 published in different journals, and also by obtaining animals 

 from the wilder portions of his State, &c. ; Dr. Barritt, of 

 Abbeville, S. C, prepared and mounted specimens of Lepus 

 aquaticiis, and several other species; Dr. Thomas M. Brewer, 

 of Boston, favoured us with specimens of a new species of 

 shrew-mole {Scalops Breweri), and sundry arvicolse; Edmund 

 RuFFiN, Esq., of Virginia, sent us several specimens of the 

 rodentia inhabiting that state, and obliged us by communi- 

 cating much information in regard to their geographical range ; 

 the late Dr. John Wright, of Troy, N. Y., fiirnished us 

 valuable notes on the various species of quadrupeds found in 

 the northern part of the State of New York, and several 

 specimens ; Dr. Wurdeman, of Charleston, supphed us with 

 several specimens of various species of bat from Cuba, thereby 



