Mammals of Utah

Foreword

Three things have induced the author to enter upon the preparation of a work on the mammals of Utah: the unavailable nature of the scattered data on our wild animals; the constantly increasing public interest in nature generally ; and the pleasurableness of the undertaking as a personal diversion. The aim has been to furnish the reader a dependable list of our mammals with accurate descriptions and brief notes on their habits and economic status.

Every available source of information has been utilized; and, in some instances, even where statements reflect the observations of the author, the work has been strengthened by the citation of numerous well-known authorities. Of course even there the author has met divergent views: the tendency, on the one side, to name new races based on slight variations and the disinclination, on the other side, to recognize forms indeterminable in the living animal. Every effort has been made, however, to cover the ground completely.

Occasionally some incident has lightened the work of investigation, such as, for instance, the report of the presence of "ibex," "chamois," and mountain goats, or the alarming views of some informants on the habits of several larger mammals.

It is astonishing the number of gaps yet to be bridged in our knowledge of the habits of our mammals generally ; and it is the sincere hope of the author that this work will to some degree encourage those observations afield which alone can overcome such difficulties.

In the preparation of the synonomy the works of Dr. Elliot have been chiefly relied upon; and the descriptions have, as far as possible, been taken from original sources.

The author is deeply indebted to Dr. William T. Hornaday of New York City for reading the manuscript and for the making of many helpful suggestions ; to Dr. C. Hart Merriam of Washington, D. C, for furnishing otherwise unavailable publications from his private library and for settling several knotty problems; to Dr. N. Miller of the University of Utah for his kindly counsel in many important matters ; and to Dr. John A. Widtsoe, former President of the University of Utah, without whose encouragement the work would never have been undertaken.

CLAUDE T. BARNES,

Salt Lake City, Utah