PREFACE. 



Thougli Members of Local Natural History Societies are carrying on 

 valuable original work much of their labour is lost because their Society 

 is not able to issue transactions, either from want of funds or from lack 

 of sufficient material. 



In order to give method and definiteness to original investigations, 

 and to ensiire more complete records, a scheme of association has been 

 formulated by the committees of the East Kent K'atural History Society 

 and the Dover Picld Club. 



This scheme is wide enough to embrace all Natural History or 

 Scientific Societies in the South Eastern Counties, and yet it is so formed 

 as not to interfei'e with the constitution and government of any individual 

 Society. The advantages to be expected from co-operation are mainly 

 three : — First, combined systematic investigation ; second, the recording 

 and publication of results in such a manner as to ensure that they shall 

 become generally known through the communication of tliem to tlie 

 committee of the corresponding Societies of the British Association; and 

 third, the advantage of being represented by a delegate on that committee. 



For the transactions of the associated Societies the title '' South 

 Eastern Naturalist" has been adopted as sufficiently wide to admit 

 communications from all, and yet sufficiently limitt d to define the district 

 in which the investigations recorded have been made. 



At present the only Societies in the Association are the East Kent 

 Natural History Society and the Dover Field Club, but it is hoped that 

 others will join. 



The transactions hitherto issued periodically by the East Kent 

 Natural History Society, will, for the future, be issued in the "South 

 Eastern Naturalist." 



W. P. MANN, ] Joint Secretaries to the 

 S. WEBB, ) Publishing Committee, 



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