yAkDHr*! 



PREFACE. 



The comxDletion of the first volume of the " Midland 

 Natm-alist " seems to call for a few remarks from those who 

 undertook its editorship. 



The purposes and aims of this periodical are fully set 

 forth in the opening addi'ess (p. 1.) How far the ideas and 

 hopes therein expressed have been fulfilled we must leave our 

 readers to decide, but we can earnestly assiu-e them that on 

 the part of the Editors and Publishers no efi'orts have been 

 spared to reahse all that was promised. 



It is, however, with the future rather than with the past 



that we are now concerned. If the "Midland Naturalist" is 



to assume its proper position in scientific hterature, as the 



official organ of so large and influential a body as the Midland 



Union of Scientific and Literary Societies, then continual efforts 



must be made for its improvement. But the power to so 



improve our Magazine, to illustrate it well, as we wish to 



do, to enlarge it so as to admit both popular and abstruse 



scientific communications, is entkely dependent on the number 



of subscribers. Of the 4,000 members belonguag to our Union, 



too few have, as yet, become annual subscribers to this Journal. 



'i^^ Dm-ing the coming year then- number ought to be largely 



^ increased, and we ask every one of om- readers to aid in bringing 



' this about. 



^,_ Fiu'thermore, every subscriber should consider him or 



^ herself as commissioned to observe and report on all 

 " occurrences of scientific interest which may happen in 

 *" theii- neighbourhood. It cannot be doubted that hundreds of 



