PEEFACE. 
When the first edition of the Cornish Fauna was published, it 
was judged necessary to make an apology for its production, by 
offering some explanation of the advantages to be obtained from 
the study of the natural productions of a limited region towards 
the progress of science, and the more general understanding of 
the works of God. But it is highly gratifying to find that such 
an explanatory apology is now no longer necessary. It is ad- 
mitted on all hands that such a work is useful. By the scientific 
naturalist it is confessed that many of his most valuable contri- 
butions towards the progress of knowledge have been poured 
into the common stock from this source ; and the local resident 
has felt a pleasure in discovering that he may become acquainted 
with the natural objects which surround him, by consulting a 
book of small size, and which will direct his enquiry after further 
information, without rendering it necessary for him to wade 
through a multitude of volumes, without clearly understanding 
what he is searching for. To every one it must be a matter of 
interest to possess some amount of information with regard to 
the number and distribution of the animal creation of his own 
district; while the men of more general science are also in- 
structed in what has only of late been valued as it deserves, the 
geographical distribution of living beings on the earth and in 
the waters. Akin to this is the influence which local circum- 
stances exert on the form and colour or habits of species known 
to exist also in other lands ; and this, with the employments 
which arise from the visits of flsh and birds, as also the opinions 
and superstitions to which close observation on the one hand, 
and ignorance on the other, have given rise, are properly the 
