If in this attempt we have failed to produce any 

 thing to amuse or instruct, the deficiency is in our- 

 selves. The few minute descriptions of animals and 

 plants that were thought admissible, have been placed 

 as marginal notes, and we hope they will not be the 

 less acceptable to the scientific reader, for being given 

 in the order in which they occurred to our notice. 



Descriptions of the greater number of the animals 

 and plants collected on the Expedition, remain to be 

 given. These may be expected to appear from time 

 to time, either in periodical journals or in some other 

 form. 



Not aspiring to be considered historians of the re- 

 gions we traversed, we only aimed at giving a sketch 

 true at the moment of our visit, and which, as far as it 

 embraces the permanent features of nature, will we 

 trust, be corroborated by those who shall follow our 

 steps. Much remains to be done not only on the 

 ground we have occupied, but in those vast regions in 

 the interior of our continent, to which the foot of ci- 

 vilized man has never penetrated. We cannot but 

 hope, that the enlightened spirit which has already 

 evinced itself in directing a part of the energies of the 

 nation, towards the development of the physical re- 

 sources of our country, will be allowed still farther to 

 operate; that the time will arrive, when we shall no 

 longer be indebted to the men of foreign countries, for 

 a knowledge of any of the products of our own soil, or 

 for our opinions in science. 



We feel it a duty incumbent upon us, to acknowledge 

 our obligations to many distinguished individuals both 



