PREFACE vii 



his interest in the author's plans for introducing the study of natural history in schools, 

 and for encouragement at a time when it was most needed. 



The manuscripts and proofs relating to mammals have been read, criticised and 

 corrected by Dr. T. S. Palmer, Assistant Chief of the Biological Survey, Washington, 

 D. C. Through Dr. Palmer's advice, the author's old-fashioned preferences on certain 

 points of nomenclature were abandoned, and the names of orders, families, genera and 

 species were brought down to date. It is due to him that in our nomenclature we are 

 in reality a trifle in advance of the times rather than behind them. 



Similar valuable service has been rendered the section on Birds by Mr. C. William 

 Beebe, Curator of Birds, and those on the Reptiles and Amphibians were read and cor- 

 rected by Mr. Raymond L. Ditmars, Curator of Reptiles, in the New York Zoological 

 Park. The portion treating of Fishes received critical attention from Mr. Charles H. 

 Townsend, Director of the New York Aquarium, but in fairness to him it must be stated 

 that he is in no way responsible for the author's arrangement of the Orders of Fishes. 



To each of the gentlemen named above I offer a most grateful acknowledgment 

 for timely and valuable services, and desire to assure the reader that for any shortcomings 

 that may appear in the finished book, they are not in the least responsible. 



In the text of this work I have endeavored to give due credit for the noteworthy 

 facts quoted from other authors. Practically the only instances wherein this has not 

 always been possible are those involving the geographic ranges of species, wherein com- 

 binations of authorities are the rule rather then the exception. To cover all possible 

 omissions, I desire to mention here the names of the authors from whom I have derived 

 many facts, but chiefly regarding distribution, and I gratefully acknowledge indebtedness 

 to Mr. D. G. Elliot's "Synopsis of the Mammals of North America and the Adjacent 

 Seas"; to the many papers on our Mammalia by Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Dr. T. S. Palmer, 

 and Mr. Vernon Bailey; to Mrs. Florence Merriam Bailey's "Birds of the Western United 

 States." Mr. Frank M. Chapman's "Birds of Eastern North America," Dr. A. K. Fisher's 

 "Hawks and Owls," and Mrs. Mabel Osgood Wright's "Birdcraft"; to Dr. Leonhard 

 Stejneger's "Poisonous Snakes of North America"; Prof. E. D. Cope's "Crocodilians, 

 Lizards and Snakes of North America," and Dr. H. Gadow's "Amphibia and Reptiles"; 

 to Dr. David S. Jordan and Dr. Barton W. Evermann's "Fishes of North and Middle 

 America," and "American Food and Game Fishes," and to Mr. Richard Lydekker's 

 "Royal Natural History." 



Naturally, I have drawn freely upon the zoological knowledge that has been accu- 

 mulated in the New York Zoological Park during its existence. 



A final word must be added regarding the illustrations. Probably no other author 

 ever had a more tempting opportunity for completely filling a volume with photographs 

 of animals. But, while I am an ardent admirer of the best results in animal photography, 

 and a diligent user of them, I also recognize the limitations of the camera. 



The demands of a zoological illustration are inexorable ; and all too often the camera 

 ignores some of them. A perfect zoological portrait of an animal must possess clear and 

 distinct outlines, showing a side view, and perfect details. A picture sans feet, tail, ears, 

 eyes or legs, is not a portrait; and a ball of fur, even though photographed, is not neces- 

 sarily an animal. Very often, also, the most perfect photograph of a spiritless animal 

 in captivity utterly fails to convey a just and adequate impression of the species as it is 

 seen at its best, on its native heath. 



