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“ The charm of this volume is, that it is written in a frank and explanatory spirit, which will be quite as intelligible and as cap- tivating to a child as to a man. There are no mysteries of science buried under ominous italics in its pages. ”

“ Our own British species have not been neglected, and the notes thereon are as full and interesting as usual.
Of course, in Aves we have found our strength, and the papers and notes thereon show no diminution in the activity of our ornithological contributors. Among so much information we can here refer to few features, but the record of the Wigeon (Mareca penelope) breeding in Ireland, and that, of the American Wigeon (M. americana) breeding in Iceland, are new facts of the highest ornithological interest. ”

“ Other Orders of British animal life seem, so far as our pages are concerned, to excite small interest. We hope in future volumes that this cannot be said.
Another feature in 1901 has been a biographical element, or what we may venture to style a commencement of "patristic zoology." Thus we have had an appreciation of "Dante as a Naturalist," and a most interesting paper on "Early Ornithologists," written, alas! by an old contributor whose valued communications we shall never receive again.
Everywhere Zoology is an advancing science. ”

“ Mr. Ernst Hartert has called attention to an "hitherto overlooked British bird" in a Marsh Tit, Parus salicarius, Brehm. The presence of the White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) in Ireland, the Pectoral Sandpiper (Tringa maculata) in Norfolk and Kent, the Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria) in Lincolnshire, the continued visitation of the Melodious Warbler (Hypolais polyglotta) in South Devon, and the nesting of the Nightingale so far west as Wells in Somerset, are among some of the many avian records we have received and published. ”

“ Although, as of yore, Ornithology has received a considerable share of attention, other branches of Natural History have not been neglected, and the many interesting observations on Mammals, Fishes and Crustacea which have been recorded during the year 1878 in these pages show how much there was to gather, how much still remains to be gleaned, even in the circumscribed field of British Zoology. ”

“ When we turn to the many classes of animals still practically ignored in our pages, we are reminded of the yet unexplored areas in animal bionomics which it is the self-constituted province of 'The Zoologist' to explore. ”

“ Every definition is full- nothing is taken as granted — we are carried into the field of inquiry as if we had never heard of it before ; and it is our fault, and not that of the writer, if we do not understand enough about entomology, when we have closed the book, to tempt us to realize some further acquisitions for ourselves. ”

“ This Journal has always, and will always, seek to understand the economy of animal life, and endeavour to reveal the polity and life-secrets of our fellow-creatures—using that term in its wider and zoological sense. ”

“ Canada, West, Central, and South Africa, India, Ceylon, Burma, Australia, and Tasmania have alike furnished zoological records. We hope that our pages may be still more informative of the great fauna to be found by colonists and travellers in a region over which the sun never sets, that exhibits the extremes of temperature, and comprises great districts still awaiting the visit of a naturalist.
Our contributors have ably maintained the position of 'The Zoologist' as the journal for animal bionomics, and in this work the ornithologists are again far in front. ”

“ But, greater than all, is the difference in our philosophical conception of the teachings of Biology. In 1859 Darwin published his 'Origin of Species,' and from that date modern biology will recognise the commencement of a new period. ”

“ In this volume more attention has been paid to the many interesting questions relative to the progress of organic evolution. Such titles as "Fecundity in each Avine Species, varying according to Accident of Locality"; "Varying Fecundity in Birds"; "The Coloration of British Birds and their Eggs"; "Mimicry," &c, tell their own tale, and prove that 'The Zoologist,' though conservative as to fact, cannot be pronounced as illiberal to theory.
We shall not write the centuries by the numerals "18" again; may the new figures bring prosperity to our Science and its votaries. ”

“ Our pages in the record of observations may be said to exhibit the essence of co-operation, for our contributors do not only write about animals, but absolutely seem to live and work with them. This is the aim and ideal of 'The Zoologist.' We do not propose to merely interpret, but really to reveal the secrets and the polity of the animal life that is around us.
The present volume contains much of great interest in British Ornithology. We have recorded the undoubted occurrence of Hypolais polyglotta in Sussex ”

“ Our "Notes and Queries" afford a good index to the animals which are most observed by our readers and contributors; but we still hope, as is our annual custom, that these neglected orders may receive more attention. We do not ask contributors to neglect or go beyond their own subject, but they would confer a service to zoology by enlisting any students and observers of invertebrates—especially marine—with whom they might come in contact as correspondents to 'The Zoologist,' and thus make the Journal still more recognized as the record for zoological observations. ”

“ A Preface to the yearly volume of 'The Zoologist' pertains to an annual stock-taking, for it must be judged largely by our contributors' additions to zoological knowledge.
The Mammalia have received special attention. The paper by Prof. J.C. Ewart on "Zebra-Horse Hybrids" may prove to be of an epoch-making nature both in Africa and India. The Indian fauna has again asserted its interest, while Mr. Oldfield Thomas has proposed a canon of nomenclature for British mammals. On the species of our own fauna many valuable notes have appeared. ”

“ Reptilia and Pisces have not been neglected, and we are glad to see the Crustacea more prominent on our literary menu. The Stalk-eyed Crustacea of Great Yarmouth, and the Malacostracous Crustacea of a section of Australia have been detailed; while a note on "The Struggle for Existence among Hermit Crabs" shows the vast interest attaching to observations on the lives of these creatures. ”

“ Ornithology and entomology are the studies which now impel most field-work, and for actual observations the followers of the first science appear to almost excel those of the second, a conclusion hitherto scarcely suspected—at least by the writer.
There are many invertebrates which are practically ignored in our pages. ”

“ We must also refer to the valuable contributions we have received to the Zoology of South Africa, Australia, the West Indies, and British India, and our expectations are that the "Foreign Intelligence" will suffer no diminution in the future.
In conclusion, the Editor, in acknowledging his obligations to the contributors, very heartily offers both them and the readers all the compliments of the season, with the best zoological wishes for the new year. ”

“ Evolution has received its strongest credentials from Zoology, and Evolution is now a force recognized as much in the life of the city as in that of the fields. We can realize the past when the zoologist would be considered a "crank"; we well understand the modern equivalent of estimating the science as a "hobby"; but it only remains for zoologists to render it one of the factors in assisting to explain the mysteries of our own existence; and this may perhaps be best achieved by the bionomical method of 'The Zoologist.'
CONTENTS.
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS. ”

“ We have been enabled to give a good figure of the "Sea-Elephant" (Macrorhinus elephantinus) , while the description of the Trek-bokke (Gazella euchore) refers to an animal which, owing to the destructiveness of man, will never be seen in its vast herds again.
Ornithology is the strength of the volume. It is unnecessary to detail any particulars among the many observations which have made 'The Zoologist' for 1899, as in all previous volumes, a special storehouse for facts in avian bionomics. We cannot, however, ignore Mr. Edmund Selous' "Observational Diary of the Habits of Nightjars." ”

“ In 1843 South Africa was little known, and its Mammalia to be found in vast herds by those who could penetrate the country. To-day the country is open, but the Mammalia a vanishing quantity. Délegorgue completed his journey—known to all naturalists—in 1844 ”

“ The Zoological Society had been founded in 1826, and was thus in only the seventeenth year of its existence; the Entomological Society was but ten years old. The Ray Society was not started till the following year (1844) , and is therefore one year younger than 'The Zoologist.' In the year that 'The Zoologist' first appeared there was published the concluding volume on the Zoology of the Voyage of H.M.S. 'Beagle,' the vessel in which Darwin made his celebrated voyage. Lyell was steadily preparing his 'Travels in North America,' which was published in the early part of 1845. ”

“ My part in connexion with 'The Zoologist' is widely different from that of editors in general. I am no intellectual giant, through the ordeal of whose searching criticism each contribution must pass before its publication. Every one who subscribes a single fact is welcome—nay, more than that—has a direct claim to be admitted as a contributor. My only duties are, first, to give the facts something like arrangement,—to associate, as much as possible, those which relate to one group or one class of animals, and to print every communication relating to that group before I proceed to another ”

“ That there is at present no general system acknowledged in Natural History.
That such a system most probably exists.
That all animals have a tendency to resemble certain normal forms which he supposes central.
That Man is central in a group usually termed Primates. ”

“ The Insecta have their own special Magazines, with which we have no desire to compete, but the natural history of insects cannot, and will not, be considered as a foreign subject to the aim and scope of 'The Zoologist.' The annals of Early Man in Britain have been commenced, and will be continued, while we confidently believe that the subject will increase in interest and detail. ”

“ PREFACE.
It is an old remark that every book has many authors; it is one that is exceedingly applicable to 'The Zoologist,' and we congratulate our contributors on the volume they have produced for 1897. ”

“ The Mammalia have not been neglected, and many original facts and observations have been published during the present year. Mr. Oldham's description of "The Mode in which Bats secure their Prey" is of permanent value. ”

“ Palæontology is not solely a section of Geology, as is too frequently held; it cannot be divorced from Zoology. Palæontology is Zoology studied by the light of Geology, and thus comes within the scope and purpose of this Journal.
CONTENTS.
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF CONTRIBUTORS.
Aplin, O.V., F.L.S., M.B.O.U.
The birds of Bardsey Island, with additional notes on the birds of Lleyn, 8, 107; Shoveler in Herts, 68; Plumage of Montagu's Harrier, 435 ”

“ The completion of another volume of 'The Zoologist' shows no diminution in the ranks of students of our British Fauna. The numbers of our contributors are practically an exact equivalent of those who produced the previous volume. Some we shall not hear from again, and we cannot help recurring to the loss of our old and valued contributor—John Cordeaux. ”

“ Contributions from all parts of the Kingdom are most earnestly solicited. For the Zoologist these must relate to Quadrupeds, Birds, Reptiles, Fishes, Insects, Shells, Worms, and Animalcules, together with facts and anecdotes relating to their habits, food, retreats, occa- sional appearance, migrations, nests, and young : for the Phytologist the communications must treat of Flowering Plants, Ferns, Mosses, Lichens, Fungi and Seaweeds, their structure, nomenclature, classifi- cation, uses, properties and localities ”

“ The Editor feels that his obligations to contributors would not be discharged without some acknowledgment to those gentlemen who, at a sacrifice of valuable time, have furnished him with Reports of the Meetings of Scientific Societies during the year, and his thanks are accordingly tendered to the Secretaries of the Linnean, Zoological, and Entomological Societies, for their respective periodical communications. ”