No. Y.
ZOOLOGICAL APPENDIX.
BY
JOSEPH SABINE, ESQ.
The,information supplied to Zoologists, from the discoveries and observations made
t>y Captain Franklin and his companions, is not less relatively advantageous, than the
benefits which have accrued to natural philosophy and geography, from the result of
their labours and exertions in the more important: objects of their mission. To Dr.
Richardson, under whose care the departments of natural history were more especially
placed, all who feel interested in or derive gratification from the advancement of that
science, are particularly indebted. Neither privations, fatigue, nor the inclemency of
the Arctic winters retarded his exertions, which have beeiS peculiarly marked by the
extent of the collections of specimens which have been received from, or brought
home by, him. Though the value of notes and descriptions of natural objects, made
carefully on the spot in distant countries is great, yet the confirmation of their
correctness by a comparison with actual specimens, is so much more beneficial, that
the highest acknowledgments are due to those who afford such additional aids to
science, and in this important point, Dr. Richardson’s labours have been eminently
successful.
QUADRUPEDS.
Notwithstanding the long and intimate intercourse wnich has subsisted between
Europe and the northern parts of the New World, our scientific knowledge of the
Quadrupeds found in the latter has hitherto been very limited. It might have been
expected, that the great demand for the furs of North America would have originated
some careful inquiries respecting the animals from which they were obtained ; little,
however, has hitherto resulted either from the observations of travellers, or of
those persons who have been successively engaged in the traffic in skins. The most
useful descriptions which have appeared were those of Foster, published in the
Philosophical Transactions, from a collection of specimens sent from Hudson’s Bay
to the Royal Society in 1771, by Mr. Graham : Hearne added to his account of his