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VOLUME XXXI. 



THIRTY YEARS' WORK OF THE 

 " IRISH NATURALIST," 



BY R. F. SCHARFF. 



It is a difficult task briefly to review the contents of the 

 thirty volumes of the Irish Naturalist, or give credit to the 

 many scientific workers who contributed to its pages. 

 But it was suggested to me to attempt such a review so 

 as CO give those who may not be acquainted with this 

 Journal some idea of its aims and of the amount and 

 usefulness of the information contained in it. 



The Journal was founded in the year 1892 to enable 

 the many observers in all branches of Natural History in 

 Ireland to compare notes and to make known to the 

 public the results of their work. It was felt by those who 

 met together in Dublin to discuss the matter that a journal 

 of this kind would bring the young naturalists in Ireland 

 into closer touch with one another and with the great 

 national institutions, the Dublin Museum, and the Botanic 

 and Zoological Gardens. Fortunately two distinguished 

 naturalists, namely, G. H, Carpenter of Dublin, and Robert 

 Lloyd Praeger who then resided in Belfast, were willing to 

 edit the journal. It thus brought together the many 

 observers living in these two great centres of education, 

 while all the natural history societies of Ireland supported 

 the movement. The governing bodies of the Royal 

 Zoological Society of Ireland, the Belfast Natural History 

 and Philosophical Society, the Belfast Naturalists' Field 

 Club, the Dublin NaturaHsts' Field Club, the Dublin 



