INTRODUCTION, 



In presenting the following pages to the public, the authors 

 desire to say a few words explanatory of the subject on 

 which they have written. The difficulties they have attempted 

 to surmount, and the labour attending their investigations, 

 have far exceeded their first anticipations. 



Many of the " Quadi-upeds of North America " were long 

 since described by European authors, from stuffed specimens ; 

 and in every department of Natural History additions to 

 the knowledge of the old writers have been making for years 

 past ; researches and investigations having been imdertaken by 

 scientific observers in all parts of the world, and many 

 specimens accumulated in the Museums of Europe. Com- 

 paratively httle, however, has of late been accomplished toward 

 the proper elucidation of the animals which inhabit the 

 fields, forests, fertile prairies, and mountainous regions of 

 our widely-extended and diversified country. 



The works of Harlan and of Godman were confined to 

 the limited number of species known in their day. The 

 valuable " Fauna Boreah Americana " of Richardson was 

 principally devoted to the description of species which exist in 

 the British Provinces, north of the United States; and the 

 more recent work of Dr. Dekav professes to describe only 

 the Quadrupeds of the State of New York, although giving a 



