PREFACE. V 



in procuring specimens from a variety of locali- 

 ties, that they might be examined under a variety 

 of circumstances, and their true character more 

 satisfactorily ascertained. The materials thus 

 accumulated would never have taken any other 

 form than papers to different societies, had it 

 not been thought desirable to have a Cornish 

 Fauna as perfect as the present state of our 

 knowledge would allow. 



The importance of local Faunas is too gene- 

 rally allowed to require any advocacy now. 

 By the investigation of circumscribed localities, 

 the habits and economy of animated nature are 

 more minutely observed and better understood 

 than when studied in the mass. The same 

 animals being found in different parts of the 

 world, they are thus examined under such a 

 variety of circumstances, that we become more 

 intimately acquainted with them. It should 

 always be remembered that neither Beasts, Birds, 

 Fishes, nor any other animals, are scattered 

 indiscriminately through the earth, but are con- 

 fined in groups to particular zones of climate; 

 and nature beautifully adapts her productions 

 to the situations they are destined to occupy. 



The migration of animals, which has hitherto 

 baffled the researches of naturalists, will pro- 

 bably receive its elucidation from these local 

 registers. If after repeated observation it be 

 found that certain creatures periodically visit 

 and leave certain regions, it seems the most 



