A paper accompanying and explanatory of a printed preliminary Fauna of the district was read on the 31st May, 1852, and it was originally intended to have been published in the Proceedings of that Session; the Author having thought, however, that advantage might arise from delay, the Council determined upon postponing it until the present opportunity. PREFACE. THE FLORA OF LIVERPOOL having been published by Dr. Dickinson during the year 1851, the animal life of the district was considered by many as equally worthy of attention, and the production of a local FAUNA was thought to be desirable. The zoology of most localities is seldom cultivated by so numerous a train of students as the vegetable kingdom generally commands. The flowers by the wayside rivet the admiring attention even of those who never bestow any scientific criticism upon them; various animals on the contrary, though high in the scale of organisation, excite feelings rather of revolt or disgust than pleasure in certain minds, and, as a consequence, "love at first sight" is a somewhat exceptional occurrence, unless at the uppermost rail of the ladder, and strong prejudice has often to be conquered before many can be induced to touch what they deem "the unclean thing," and examine the beauty that is hidden under a repulsive exterior. The activity of different species of animals often renders their capture difficult. When marine, the use of the dredge entails a consumption of time such as can rarely be spared by those who have other paramount duties to perform, putting out of account the amount of visceral commotion the unpractised sailor is doomed to endure, and which requires a large zoological profit to compensate, under such circumstances, for the want of pleasure in procuring it. In 1851, by the advice of Mr. R. M'Andrew, several gentlemen subscribed for the purpose of having the shore dredged for specimens, and many trips were taken in the Mersey, along the coast as far as Formby, at the north of the Cheshire peninsula, and up the Dee as far as Dawpool. These expeditions brought to light several species which were not supposed to have existed in the neighbourhood, and of others (shelled mollusks) which had only been found before in the dead state, living specimens were ascertained to inhabit deeper water. Still much more might be done by a well conducted and longer continued system of dredging. The Hoylake fishermen have been fertile sources for obtaining specimens, though it is difficult to induce them to take care of what they find. Burnet's fluid was supplied to them, into which, diluted (1 part to 9) with water, they were requested to put captures, but in some instances, when daily visits could not be paid, time, the cat, or the children made sad havoc. |