No. V. 



ZOOLOGICAL APPENDIX. 



BY 



JOSEPH SABINE, ESQ. 



The information supplied to Zoologists, from the discoveries and observations made 

 by Captain Franklin and his companions, is not less relatively advantageous, than the 

 benefits which have accrued to natural philosophy and geography, from the result of 

 their labours and exertions in the more important objects of their mission. To Dr. 

 Richardson, under whose care the departments of natural history were more especially 

 placed, all who feel interested in or derive gratification from the advancement of that 

 science, are particularly indebted. Neither privations, fatigue, nor the inclemency of 

 the Arctic winters retarded his exertions, which have been peculiarly marked by the 

 extent of the collections of specimens which have been received from, or brought 

 home by, him. Though the value of notes and descriptions of natural objects, made 

 carefully on the spot in distant countries is great, yet the confirmation of their 

 correctness by a comparison with actual specimens, is so much more beneficial, that 

 the highest acknowledgments are due to those who afford such additional aids to 

 science, and in this important point, Dr. Richardson's labours have been eminently 

 successful. 



QUADRUPEDS. 



Notwithstanding the long and intimate intercourse which has subsisted between 

 Europe and the northern parts of the New World, our scientific knowledge of the 

 Quadrupeds found in the latter has hitherto been very limited. It might have been 

 expected, that the great demand for the furs of North America, would have originated 

 some careful inquiries respecting the animals from which they were obtained ; little., 

 however, has hitherto resulted either from the observations of travellers, or of 

 those persons who have been successively engaged in the traffic in skins. The most 

 useful descriptions which have appeared were those of Forster, published in the 

 Philosophical Transactions, from a collection of specimens sent from Hudson's Bay 

 to the Royal Society in 1771, by Mr. Graham : Hearne added to his account of his 



