EXPLANATORY NOTICE. 
For coiiveuitiiec iu biuding tlie parts separate]}-, if desired, the Botanical and Zoological portions are paged iadepeudeiitly. 
The plates are numbered to correspond with the Gov'ernrnent series without reference to the order in which thej' are placed 
herein. 
For explanations of most of tlie illustrations see page viii. immediately preceding the Entomological chapter ; but the 
following have been added which are not contained in the Government Edition : 
Birds, PI. VII. — Slrepsilas inelamcejihala^, reproduced from Vol. X. P. R. R. Reports. 
" PI. VIII. — Podiwps Calif ornicus, " " " " 
" Bernida nigricans, Lawr. Reproduced by permission from Ca.ssin's "Illustrations of tlie Birds of California," kc. 
'• Lams Ileermanni, Cassin. " " '■ '■ " " 
Reptiles, PI. XXIII. — Masticophis keniatus, reproduced from Vol. X , P. R. R. E. 
'■ PI. XXIX. — Rana hnkcina, &c. For the first time published. This plate hy error is alluded to on p. viii. (Zoologi- 
cal portion), as plate XXIII. 
Fishes, PL XLIII. — Var. of Pivielodus ailurus, not before published. 
" PI. XXIX. — Gohio gelidus, reproduced from U. S. and Mex. Boundary Surve}-. 
The corrections needed in the Government Edition are obvious. The additional material here given has. been gathered since 
the original report was presented to Congress. 
The first hundred copies of the present book were bound to include a chapter of 20 pages on Meteorology and published with 
the names of Cooper and Suckle}' on the title-pages. The present issue is identical with that, excepting, however, in the 
improvements here alluded to, and that it does not contain the Meteorological Cliapter — which is counter-balanced to a great 
extent by the insertion of Mr. Cassin's valuable plates above mentioned. The plates of Scenery and Cliart accompanying the 
meteorological chapter are also omitted. 
The plates spoken of as having been reproduced from other works, or volumes, have been incorporated with tlie view of 
making the book more useful to students of Natural History who may be on the remote frontier without library facilities. 
The plates of the Quadrupeds, Reptiles, and Fishes in this edition, have been for the most part struck off from the ori'jinul 
co2rper plalex, and are accordingly much superior to those of the Government Edition. 
