PREFACE 
This History or the American Fauna is designed to furnish an abstract of the 
present knowledge relating to the Zoology of the American Continent, in connection with 
and supplementary to a more extended work, the combined efforts of the eminent British 
Zoologists whose names are borne on the title-page. 
. The excellent and exhaustive monographs and reports published by the Smithsonian 
Institution, and the Interior and War Departments, have placed on record a vast amount 
of valuable information on American Zoology, which, however, is to many inaccessible. 
It has been our endeavor to pi’esent, through the courtesy of the authors, an epitome of 
the knowledge embodied in the latest publications, including valuable matter, issued in 
volume, brochure and essay. The notable absence of any published general source of in- 
formation concerning American Zoology, has been less felt by reason of our privileges as 
sojourner with the U. S. Fish Commission. Companionship with its scientific corps, on 
the several occasions of encampment, is remembered with exceeding pleasure. From its 
honored chief. Professor S. F. Baird, we have received much kindly advice and courtesy. 
To Professor Verrill, Director of the Laboratory, and Professors G. Browne Goode and 
Gill, we are greatly indebted for timely suggestions and valuable information. The 
charming associations of the encampments of Peake’s Island and the ‘‘ Blue Light,” “ Off 
the Skillings,” Noank and Gloucester, and the Speedwell,” are all fresh in memory, as 
periods profitably passed. Professor J. S. Hewberry, of Columbia College, and Professor 
Stevenson, of the University of New York, have also rendered us valuable assistance. 
In considering the plan of this work, it was deemed advisable to devote more attention 
to those branches which were less developed in a popular manner ; hence, there is small 
space given to Insects and Shell-fish, for the reason that there are numerous works, within 
the reach of all, treating quite exhaustively on these subjects. Greater consideration of 
the higher forms was regarded as desirable, and these we have endeavored to treat with 
more completeness as to biography; the specific characters, with reference to the iden- 
tification of species, could not properly be recorded. 
A retrospect of our Zoological field, its aspects from the earliest time, and a glance at 
the memoirs of its laborers, was a part of our purpose, but our limits allow only the names 
of the more prominent. Those from whose works we have drawn are mentioned in appro- 
priate places. Observers and writers on Natural History were not wanting in the early days 
of our Continental History. In 1G72, Josselyn published a work in London which he named 
hew England's Rarities, Discovered in Birds, Beasts, Fishes, Plants, &c.; and, in 1694, 
Clayton issued a work, entitled Beasts and Serpents of Virginia. In 1698, Hennepen 
published in Amsterdam a general work of discovery in America, in which is considerable 
matter relating to the Zoology and Botany of the country. In 1709, Lawson wrote the 
results of his Voyage to Carolina, and afterwards issued other books containing informa- 
tion on Zoological subjects. In 1731, the great work of Catesby, entitled The Natural 
