Preface 
GIVE in the following pages an account of one hun- 
dred and seventeen kinds of animals, with shorter 
references to some others, the great majority of which 
are certain to be represented in most Zoological Gardens. 
These types of vertebrate life are placed in due relation 
to each other by some details concerning the structure and 
classification of the vertebrata, which precede in an 
orderly way the sections referring to those several 
types. The volume thus contains a sketch of verte- 
brate life which may serve as an introduction to more 
exhaustive studies. It will also, I hope, be of some 
assistance to those who desire to know something of the 
great variety of animal life exhibited in these institu- 
tions, and as a guide to the mammals, birds, reptiles, 
and amphibians therein collected together. 
FRANK E. BEDDARD. 
October, 1904. 
