THE Editor wishes to take the occasion offered bythecommence- 

 ment of a new volume of the Scottish Naturalist to thank 

 very sincerely the friends that have assisted him with contributions 

 since he undertook the editorship ; and he ventures to hope that 

 equally kind assistance will be extended to him in the future. 



It has been his wish to render the Magazine acceptable to the 

 subscribers by the value of the original articles in their bearing on 

 the progress of biology and other scientific studies in Scotland, and 

 also to supply a resume of such articles as have been published in 

 other magazines in so far as they tend in this direction. The 

 transactions and proceedings of Scottish scientific societies, both at 

 their meetings and in their publications, have been reported when 

 it was in his power to do so ; and he has to thank the secretaries 

 of several societies for their courtesy in sending reports of their 

 meetings, while regretting that he has not been able to obtain the 

 necessary information in regard to too many others. The secre- 

 taries of all Scottish scientific societies would greatly facilitate the 

 carrying out of this programme by forwarding to the Editor regular 

 brief reports of the subjects discussed in their meetings. It is 

 hardly needful to point out how desirable it is that each society 

 should be aware of what is being done in all the others ; nor is it 

 needful to dwell at length on the suitability of the Scottish Naturalist 

 to supply such information. This Magazine occupies a position 

 not filled by any other in Scotland, and the societies are requested 

 to give it their support, and to render it, as far as can be done, a 

 bond of union among them. 



In the case of such societies as do not print their transactions, 

 there are, doubtless, not seldom papers deserving of a wider circu- 

 lation and more durable form than is secured to them by being read 

 in the societies ; and to such papers the pages of the Scottish 

 Naturalist will be gladly opened. 



Articles of a more popular nature, when bearing on the subjects 

 admitted as within the scope of the Magazine will also be welcomed. 

 If it meets the wishes of the supporters of the Magazine a space 



