TO OUR SUBSCRIBERS. 



IN pre-sonting to our Subscribers a First Number of the Second Volume of the 

 " NATURAL HISTORY REVIEW," we would wish to inform them, in a few words, of 

 our object in publishing it, and of our past success and our future prospects. 

 Our first object in undertaking the publication of the " REVIEW" was a wish to 

 advance the- cause of Natural History in Ireland. We were aware of the existence of 

 Societies for the advancement of Natural Sciences throughout the country ; and we 

 knew of many discoveries being made to, and interesting papers being read before, 

 these Societies, which, owing to there being no journal where these could be recorded, 

 were lost to the world at large. Ireland is looked upon by Naturalists as an unknown 

 country ; and one of the reasons, we have no doubt, is, that many of the discoveries 

 of her explorers perished with themselves, to be remade at some future time by others. 

 The truth of this statement is, we think, borne out by the first volume of the 

 " REVIEW," which, although it was some time before it was recognised as a medium 

 of publishing the proceedings of all the Irish Natural History Societies, yet con- 

 tains nearly one hundred communications to the Societies, of more or less interest to 

 the Naturalist. Our object in future shall be to give the reports in full, as corrected 

 by the Councils of the six Irish Natural History Societies ; and, at the same time, by 

 giving Reviews of all the new Works on Natural History as they appear, and short 

 notices of the various Serial Publications, together with notices of the decease of 

 eminent British Naturalists, we hope to make the "REVIEW" interesting to all 

 those who take an interest in the Natural History of the country. 



As to our past success we know not what we can say. We certainly have got 

 the friendly co-operation of the Councils of all the Societies in Ireland ; and, as it 

 was a new thing for the scientific public to see a publication of any pretensions pub- 

 lished by Irish Naturalists, so we think, as a first attempt, we have not altogether 

 failed. Our prospects for the future are by far a step in advance of those for the 

 past ; and we trust we may have the assistance of the English Naturalists to help a 

 Periodical which has for its design to promote science, and to assist the advance- 

 ment of knowledge in this part of the world. 



It is intended, when arrangements are more fully matured, to publish short notices 

 of all the English and Scotch Natural History Societies, as also to give reports of 

 Naturalists exploring foreign parts thus making our Journal more useful to the 

 general Naturalist. This will depend on the measure of success we meet with in the 

 second volume. 



We have to apologize to our Subscribers for the delay in issuing this number ; but 

 we are sure we will be excused when we state, that before entering on the second 

 volume, we wished to have the opinions of our various friends as to the likelihood of 

 support from the members of the various Irish Natural History Societies, which, of 

 course, took some time. In future we have made arrangements with Mr. Highley to 

 have the " REVIEW" published on the last of the month preceding that of publication. 



Now ready, neatly bound in green cloth, gilt, 8vo, the First Volume of 



"THE NATURAL HISTORY REVIEW" 



For 1854. 



London : S. Highley, 32, Fleet-street. Dublin : Hodges and Smith, 105, Graf ton -street. 

 Edinburgh : Johnstone and Hunter. Forwarded by post, on receipt of 8s. worth of Postage 

 Stamps, sent to Messrs. Purdon, 23, Bachelor's-walk, Dublin. 



