38 



reason, why it has received so little atten- 

 tion here. A formal exposition of the uti- 

 lity of this science is hardly requisite before 

 a society, expressly established for its cul- 

 tivation. Thus much, however, we may be 

 permitted to say, that few departments of 

 knowledge demand more varied acquire- 

 ments, more accurate habits of investiga- 

 tion, or a more familiar acquaintance with 

 the labors of the learned in every part of 

 the world. 



Ten years ago, our animals were little 

 known or carelessly described, and perhaps 

 a stronger proof of the ignorance or indif- 

 ference prevailing on this subject cannot be 

 adduced, than the fact that the Cervus virgi- 

 niams^ or common deer of this country, was 

 not satisfactorily known or identified, until 

 within a very recent period. Shall it be 

 added, that even for this we are indebted 

 to foreigners? The formidable grizzly 

 bear, the terror of all western travellers, is 

 not to the present day sufficiently deter- 

 mined to be a different animal from the 

 arctos^ or northern bear of Europe. 



Pursuant to the proposed plan of this dis- 

 course, we should proceed regularly through 



