VI 
INTRODUCTION. 
moderns are frequently copyists of each other. 
Those who are desirous of consulting other au- 
thors besides those here given, will find in the 
books referred to, so much instruction as will 
satisfy their enquiry, or direct them where to 
obtain it. 
The references to modern Authors must also 
be regarded as including their history of each 
species, with the exceptions particularly pointed 
out; and therefore nothing is given that might 
be found in any of them. The short notes added 
to the species are therefore to be understood as 
occasional correction of what is believed to be an 
error, or an addition of something in which our 
native species may differ from the same kinds in 
other districts. Minute observation is thus some- 
times admissible, where in larger or more general 
works it w'ould be out of place ; and in some in- 
stances it may be considered as descriptive of the 
influence of climate and situation. 
A Fauna of a Country is commonly under- 
stood to comprize an enumeration of all the living 
nature of the district it embraces ; and therefore 
it may be objected, that in the present instance 
the name is scarcely applicable to a work that 
omits the more numerous tribes. Of these the 
Annelides must be left to other hands : which is 
mentioned the rather, that some competent per- 
sons, for it requires many labourers, may not delay 
to enter upon the task. The Molluscs also, will 
invite, and amply repay, the labour of the Natu- 
ralist. An imperfect enumeration might have 
been given, but it has been judged better to omit 
what must have been exceedingly unsatisfactory, 
to an inquiring Naturalist. 
