XXIV. 
CONTENTS. 
Zoology of the central cultivated districts, or South Hams of Devon. 
Physical capacity of this division of Devon to support a Fauna.— 
The Mammalia,—those which assume the white fur.—The Birds,— 
preponderance of the Passerine tribe,—proportions cf each tribe 
stated.—The ornithology of the South Hams particularly exten¬ 
sive,—a comparison instituted between the South Hams and Oxford¬ 
shire to prove this,—those birds in which we are deficient noticed in 
the course of the remarks,—also the peculiar and remarkable 
features in our ornithological list.—Diversified nature of the geogra¬ 
phical range of species,—the phenomena not referrible to secondary 
laws ;—the occurrence of our numerous rarities depends on these 
diversifications.—Our deficiencies classified.—Statements relative 
to our irregular visitors, and some birds having peculiar stations and 
movements.—Roaming habits and extensive geographical ranges 
consigned to the generality of rapacious birds,—this rule extends 
to the rapacious species of passerine birds.—Comparative distribu¬ 
tions of the tribes of birds and other animals.—Wading birds,— 
their various situations and movements,—those species belonging 
to the South Hams separated.--SlaptonLey.—difficulty of separating 
the inland and fluviatile Grail a) from the marine Grallse.—Web¬ 
footed birds of the South Hams.—Conclusions relative to the 
extent and importance of our ornithology,—the reasons of this 
unusual extent defined.—Land and fluviatile shells correspond in 
some degree with the physical characters of our county,—but the 
exceptions to this rule important.—The limits of some species so 
accurately defined as to excite a suspicion of accordance with soil 
or vegetable products.—Comparisons between the limits of animals, 
vegetables, and minerals of a district useful,—the kingdoms of 
Nature not only associated but connected. 
Littoral and marine zoology of South Devon. —This portion of our 
Fauna more isolated than theothers.—These divisions useful though 
arbitrary.—Mammals of the coast,—the bats.—Variations of abode 
of animals according to situations and circumstances.—Instinct 
not so limited a mental power as usually thought.—Natural resi¬ 
dence of some kinds of birds on the coast; their adoption o f 
buildings, &c. as substitutes for rocks,—partiality of the hirundines 
for the neighbourhood of man,—the philosophy of zoology depen¬ 
dent on such detail in the history of species.—The Otter.—Our 
Cetaceous Mammalia.—Birds of the coast.—The Kingfisher instan¬ 
ced to prove dispersion in individuals of a species in the time of 
scarcity of food.—Visitants of the coast.—Grallae of the coast 
separated from those species referred to other localities,—the tribe 
analysed,—their propensity to roam and affect various localities, 
as well as their general dispersion an obstacle to such separation.— 
Rarer marine grallae.—What reason can be assigned for our 
possessing so many of the rarer grallse?—The Web-footed Birds,— 
the occurrence of rarities in this tribe more readily explained than 
those of the grallae ;—rarer Palmipedes.—The Fishes.—Irregular 
appearances of the Pilchard.—Molluscs ; possible influence of 
