Excerpt from Economic Mammalogy

The literature of economic mammalogy is very extensive and scat tered through numerous books, magazines, journals, and pamphlets. Many of these publications are not available in small public and private libraries. Consequently the information is to a great extent unavailable to anyone except a few specialists who have access to large libraries and know where the more important items may be found-even they feel the need of a condensed summary or digest of the scattered in formation. This volume has been prepared for the purpose of bringing together and condensing into compact form as much as possible of the information concerning the economic relations of mammals; their bearing upon the welfare of the human race; their food habits; methods of preserving the more useful species and controlling the more harm ful ones; the danger of exterminating certain species; and various other interesting facts pertinent to the subject, thus making them available to the general reader, as well as to teachers and students of biology. The Subject is so broad and has so many ramifications that it can scarcely be hoped that this book is either complete or perfect, but it is hoped that but little of much importance has been overlooked, especial ly concerning North American mammals. Great effort has been put forth to insure accuracy. We do not vouch for the correctness of all statements made by the various authors whose publications we quote or cite. Space does not permit the recital of all the minor details, and, if included, their multiplicity would place an unwarranted burden upon the reader and detract from the readability and usefulness of the volume. For the benefit of those who may wish to delve more deeply into the subject, the appended bibliography and numerous footnotes furnish references to original sources of information where more de tailed information may be found.

We acknowledge with gratitude the valuable assistance of Mr. Hugo G. Rodeck and Mrs. Junius Henderson in proof reading, checking references, and indexing. We are also grateful to the publisher and his editor for their efforts to present this book in an attractive form.

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