PREFACE. 



O^ 



The undoubted merits of the very able Report ou the 

 PeunatuHda which occupies somethiug like one-fourtli of the 

 present Volume have been recognised by the award of the 

 Darwin Medal to the authors, Professor A. Milnes Marshall. 

 M.A., M.D., D.Sc, Professor of Zoology m Owens College, 

 and Mr. W. P. Marshall, M.I.C.E. To the liberality of the 

 Committee of the Birmingham Natural History and Micro- 

 scopical Society the Editors are indebted for the excellent 

 reproductions of the authors' exquisite drawings illustrating 

 the Report, which have been done at the sole cost of the 

 Society. 



The Editors beg to thank their band of regular contributors 

 for the valuable assistance they have rendered during the 

 past year, and solicit a contimiauce of their help in the 

 fiitm'e. They will also gladly welcome contributions from 

 other competent naturalists, to whom the pages of the 

 Magazine will always be open. 



Space will be set apart for questions from inquii-ers 

 seeking information, and no pains will be spared to obtain 

 replies fi'om reliable authorities. 



The Darwin prize in 1888 being hmited to Arclueology, 

 the Editors will be glad to receive suitable papers not later 

 than the 81st of March next. 



