4 QUADRUPEDS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



this statement, it will be seen that I have not been very successful in 

 the discovery of new species. There are, undoubtedly, several among 

 the small quadrupeds yet to be added, but I have not been fortunate 

 enough to make many such discoveries myself. 



In preparing this Report, I have made use of the excellent work of 

 Richardson on the northern animals of this continent, also of the 

 work of Mr. Bell, whose ordinal names I have adopted ; both of whom 

 have also essentially aided me in drawing up generic and specific 

 characters. Of American authors, Harlan and Godman have been 

 of essential service. With the publications of Dr. Backman of 

 Charleston I was unacquainted till most of the Report was written, 

 and was only able to avail myself of his labors upon our Squirrels. 

 In justice to the authors already mentioned, as well as others, it be- 

 comes me to remark, that I may have made a greater use of them 

 than appears in this acknowledgment ; and when this may seem to be 

 the case, in the perusal of the Report, I trust that it will not be con- 

 sidered a design to commit depredations on the property of others who 

 have labored, and more efficiently too, in the same field, but an over- 

 sight, arising, it may be, from neglecting to make the references at the 

 proper time. Of unpublished works, Dr. J. E. De Kay's "Report on 

 the Animals of New York " has been quite useful. More especially, 

 however, am I indebted to him for personal observations on many of 

 our Mammalia. 



On comparing the old Catalogue with the one I have drawn up, it 

 will be seen that there are several important alterations ; all of which 

 were unquestionably necessary. Many of these were made by Dr. 

 De Kay, whose name is familiar not only in this country, but in Eu- 

 rope, and whose authority is acknowledged by the naturalists of the 

 old and new world. 



In this Catalogue, I have been averse to the admission of doubtful 

 species, or those which I did not know, from personal observation, to 

 have been found within the limits of the State, excepting those which 

 are well known to have been extirpated. There are a few, however, 

 which I have admitted, which I have not actually seen in Massachu- 

 setts ; but, having seen them under circumstances which satisfied me 

 that they were residents, if we may rely on the laws which govern the 

 distribution of animals, I have admitted them as such. Living, as I do, 

 in a corner of the State, at a distance from the sea coast, it is probable 

 that there are several smaller quadrupeds, inhabiting the salt marshes 

 and other secluded places, which are well known to other naturalists, 



