Twelve years ago, when the Perthshire Society of Natural Science 

 decided to take the bold step of issuing a new Magazine devoted 

 to Scottish Natural History in the widest sense, it is probable that 

 not one of the originators anticipated for their venture a longer 

 career than one or two years. It met, however, with a very kind 

 reception, and not only continued to exist but to receive increas- 

 ing support, and, it is hoped, fulfilled in some measure the object 

 of its existence — the promotion of the study of the Natural History 

 of Scotland. Yet, the Scottish Naturalist has shared the common 

 fate of such magazines in its vicissitudes of fortune, and more 

 than once it has seemed as if the time had come when it must be 

 brought to a close ; but in confessing this to our friends it is with 

 the confident hope that they will extend the same kind aid in the 

 hour of need, should that come, that they have so readily given 

 in the past. 



The time has come when from personal reasons I must resign 

 the editorship ; but not, I trust, sever all connection with the 

 Magazine. In its pages I still hope to meet in the spirit the 

 friends with whom my intercourse has been so pleasant during the 

 past twelve years ; and with them I still hope to labour in a com- 

 mon field and for a common object. With this hope I now resign 

 the Magazine into the hands of my successor. 



One duty alone remains to be discharged, and that is the plea- 

 sant one of thanking most heartily all the friends (though some 

 dear ones alas ! have passed from among us), by whose kindness 

 alone I have been enabled to conduct the Scottish Naturalist till 

 now. 



F. BUCHANAN WHITE. 



It will be admitted by all lovers of the natural sciences in Scot- 

 land that the Scottish Naturalist has attained in no small degree 

 the object of which its originators aimed, and that in all future 

 labours in the field of Scottish Natural History in the widest sense 

 frequent reference must be made to its pages. 



A 



