THE ZOOLOGIST: A MONTHLY JOURNAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. THIRD SERIES-VOL. VI. EDITED BY J. E. HARTING, F. L. S., F. Z. S., MEMBER OF THE BRITISH ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION. DELECTANDO PARITERQUE MONENDO. LONDON: JOHN VAN VOORST, 1, PATERNOSTER ROW. 1882. PREFACE. WITH the present number another annual volume is brought to a close the sixth of the New Series. On looking over the list of contributors for the year, the Editor cannot but congratulate himself upon the support which he has received, no less than upon the number and quality of the contributions which have appeared. For these his best thanks are due to the writers. While looking with satisfaction on the past, he is encouraged to look also with hope to the future, in the expectation of receiving no fewer favours in 1883 than it has been his good fortune to receive in 1882. But one word is ringing in his ears-Progress! There is room for improvement, there is reason for advance, and it is believed that some advance may be made in a new direction which will be agreeable to the readers of THE ZOOLOGIST.' Commencing with the number for January, 1883, it is proposed to enlarge the scope of the "Occasional Notes" by substituting the heading "Notes and Queries," in order to enable readers who may not have any facts to communicate, to ask questions, if they are so minded, which will be printed with the replies, either in the same or a succeeding number, as the nature of the questions may permit. The adoption of this plan will lead to another innovation. It has been a special feature in 'THE ZOOLOGIST,' from its very commencement, that no anonymous communications have been printed, and it is still the Editor's opinion that all statements of facts should be attested by genuine signatures. In this lies the value of the contributions. But in regard to "“ Queries" the case is different, and the Editor has good reason to know that many persons whose only desire is to obtain reliable information, have a reluctance to append their names to questions which may perhaps appear simple to more experienced naturalists than themselves. It will therefore be competent to correspondents sending "Queries" to adopt, if they please, some pseudonym or initials; but in such cases they should always communicate their real names and addresses 233581 |