Vll 



the progress of human advancement and industry, as others re- 

 main among us only by sufference, or for our pleasure ; but 

 most of the former, have left some marks of their presence, 

 either at least in the names of places where formerly they were 

 found, or in the history of events with which they were con- 

 nected ; and as some of their remains are at times dug up from 

 the places in which they had long been buried, it forms a neces- 

 sary part of our subject to preserve some record of these 

 fragments in connection with the place, and to associate them in 

 our remembrance with those species which were their companions 

 in ages long gone by, but which from causes altogether unknown 

 have not perished with them.* We would not deny the ancient 

 existence of many species because they have not left any 

 diluvial remains behind them ; but there are undeniable proofs 

 that the badger, among others, which continues to maintain its 

 station among us in spite of persecution, was also an inhabitant of 

 Britain at a time when there roved over our hills a very different 

 race of animals from any we now see, or it would be pleasant or 

 safe to meet. 



At the time when the Cornish Fauna of the first edition was 

 written, the number of observers in Cornish natural history was 

 few, and the materials for reference in ascertaining the names 

 of species scanty, but it is a great pleasure to remark that a 

 great improvement has since then taken place in both respects. 

 The series of books on the science, published by Mr. Yan Voorst, 

 has left little to be desired in the latter respect ; and besides 

 that, they have had, further, the good effect of increasing the 

 number of students of nature, and bringing them into closer 

 acquaintance with others, and thus benefited their enquiries by 

 the mutual aid they have obtained from each other's labours. 

 It is with much pleasure that the author acknowledges the as- 

 sistance he has received from the communications of several of 

 those, his esteemed friends : the names of whom will be found 

 in the course of the following pages, as authorities for several 

 of the facts he has given, but it is with feelings of sorrow he 

 adds, that some of them, greatly valued, have been removed 

 from all that caused joy or sorrow on earth ; and others have 

 been far removed by the casualties of life, either into situations 



* See Introductory uote, p. lii. 



