PREFACE, 



If this Fourth Volume of the Magazine of Natural History shall 

 be found, as we believe it will, to contain a greater variety of 

 articles than either of the three which have preceded it, our 

 Subscribers are indebted to our Contributors, and we think will 

 join with us in offering them sincere and hearty thanks. We 

 have only to refer to the List of Contributors (p. vii.)? to show their 

 number, and the rank in science of some of their names. 



Among the improvements introduced in the present Volume, 

 we are desirous of directing the attention of our readers to some 

 made in the General Index. Under the head of " Queries and 

 Answers" will be found, alphabetically arranged, all the subjects 

 queried or answered in the present Volume, with references con- 

 nected with these queries to former Volumes. Under the word 

 " Hints," in this Index, will be found the various suggestions 

 for improvements in the management of the Magazine, or for 

 articles to be written for it, which have been given in this Volume, 

 without having been complied with. Under " Retrospective Cri- 

 ticism" will be found all the subjects criticised in this Volume, 

 with references, as in the case of " Queries and Answers," to 

 former Volumes. Lastly, under " Corrections," the errors in this 

 Volume, and in preceding ones not before noticed, are given. 



Among other advantages which will result from this plan 

 being adopted in future, will be that of pointing out to the more 

 profound Naturalist a ready mode of ascertaining the wants of 

 his less instructed brethren ; there being many of the former, 

 we are convinced, who would willingly answer a query, or settle 

 a point of difficulty or criticism, who have neither leisure nor 

 inclination to write longer articles. 



It is not without regret that we allude to the large proportion 

 of controversial papers contained in the present Volume ; but 



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