History of British animals - University of Guam Marine Laboratory

.XIVPREFACE.selves to all the changes of this variable climate.Theyare theonly species which strictly merit the epithet Indigenous.The Periodical Visitants chiefly belong to the class of BirdsSome of these come from more southern latitudes, to spend thesummer, and bring forth their young while others arrive from;more northern latitudes, to escape the rigours of an arctic winter.The vernal shifting the author has denominated EquatorialMigration, the autumnal shifting the Polar Migration.All the species of these groups, though intimately connected withthe country, by the regularityof their visits, enjoy a rightofcitizenship less perfect than the resident animals.Stragglers, or irregular visitants, have hitherto occupied ahigher rank in every British Fauna, than they seem entitled topossess. Driven from their native haunts to this country bysome temporary calamity,the persecution of foes, or the fury ofa storm,species.they have been recorded inconsiderately as indigenousTheir occurrence, as serving to illustrate the distributionof species, should be recorded, but not in such a manner asto assimilate them with the resident kinds, and periodical visitants.Acting upon this principle, the author has been compelledto degrade to the rank of Stragglers, several Birds andFishes which have long occupied a more distinguished place.The Extirpated Animals are such speciesas still maintaintheir ground in other regions, but have been destroyed in thiscountry by the long continued persecutions of man.The Extinct Animals are such as once dwelt in this country,but Avhich have disappeared, and, from various causes, seem tohave perished from off the earth.The remains of the extirpated animals, or such as historyrecords to have lived in the country, are occasionally found imbeddedin several of the superficial or modern strata, in companywith the relics belonging to the yet indigenous species.Along with both of these, also occur the relics of several species,concerning which the voice of tradition is silent. Interred, however,in the same grave with the relics of individuals belongingto existing species,and such as have perished by human agency,and belonging to tribes which at all times have been the objectsof the huntsman's pursuit; the author has referred their de-(rn< lion to the influence of the chase, and has exhibited his views