1 903 Editorials 3 



— to special examples of it. Botany will be similarly 

 treated soon. 



For the benefit of those who are new to field work, and 

 who are on the threshold of scientific study, we intend to 

 carry out the same plan in the domain of British Zoology. 

 These articles will aim at giving a simple yet scientific view 

 of the subject of Zoology, looked at mainly from the stand- 

 point of field work, as opposed to that of laboratory work. 

 There is no question of the respective merits of the two 

 points of view ; it simply is that they are different, and are 

 studied by different classes of the community. The ideal 

 naturalist is the man who spends one-half of his time and 

 energy in observing animals in their natural surroundings 

 and the other half in the laboratory with his scalpel and 

 microscope. Unfortunately it is not given to many to be 

 able to satisfactorily combine the two methods. Our duty 

 in the matter is to try and help the outdoor worker to a 

 scientific comprehension of what he sees. The articles will 

 be written by field naturalists who have devoted special at- 

 tention to certain groups of animals, and will be illustrated. 

 The examples of the various Classes, Orders, &c, will be 

 taken from British forms exclusively, those most readily 

 obtainable being preferred. It will be understood that these 

 articles are for beginners in field work, and we are sure that 

 advanced workers will not grudge the space given to them, 

 and may even derive some benefit themselves in once more 

 reading some great scientific truths although clad in the 

 simplest language. 



For the rest we are glad to find that our Correspondence 

 columns are becoming more widely used, and should welcome 

 any extension in this direction. There is ample evidence 

 that the care taken in the reviews of books in the Library 

 column has been much appreciated by our readers who wish 

 to add to their own libraries ; and the Competition for Young 

 Naturalists has produced some most excellent essays, the 

 rewards for which will, we trust, stimulate the juniors to 

 still more serious study. 



Those of our readers who as yet have not identified them- 

 selves with any field club or society we would urge to do so, 

 if there be such an institution in their locality; and further, 



