facts, which if published avouU be of scientific vahie, are yearly 

 obseiTed by some one or other, but lost because not recorded. 

 If our readers will help us iu this respect, our endeavour 

 to make the ''Midland Naturalist" a magazine of Midland 

 Counties Natm-al History will be realised. 



Many of our readers have given us valuable assistance, and 

 to all the kind friends who have contributed to our pages 

 we tender our warmest thanks. We owe especial thanks 

 to Mr. W. K. Hughes, F.L.S., and Mr. W. B. Grove, B.A., 

 not only for contributions, but for unceasmg help in 

 correcting proofs, and iu other ways. 



We also gratefully acknowledge the ser\ices rendered 

 by our eighty Meteorological observers, who have enabled us 

 to publish from mouth to month a very complete record of 

 the weather of the Midlands. 



To Mr. Charles E. Scarse, of the Bu-mingham Library, 

 botli we and our readers are greatly indebted, for com- 

 piling the excellent Index we are enabled to pubhsh of the 

 contents of our first volume. 



Duiing the coming year we hope to present our readers 

 witli a number of interesting papers. To the January part 

 Philip Henry Gosse, Esq., F.R.S., will contribute a most 

 valuable account of a Marine Aquarium on the cu'culating 

 principle recently erected by him in his house at Torquay. We 

 shall also soon commence a series of practical Geological papers, 

 entitled "Rambles with a Hammer in the Midland Counties." 

 The important communications with which Dr. T. Spencer 

 Cobbold, F.R.S., has favoured us will be continued, as will also 

 Mr. James E. Bagnall's " Moss Habitats ;" the latter gentleman 

 is also preparing some articles on " The Cryptogamic Flora of 

 Warwickshne." Mr. W. B. Grove, B.A., will contribute 

 some papers on " The Pronunciation of Scientific Names." The 

 Glacial scheme (see p. 242) will, we trust, be productive of 

 good results, which we shall be glad to chronicle. A paper 

 on " Practical Meteorology," with illustrations of the most 

 recent improvements in meteorological apparatus, is also in 

 hand. Entomology, Ornithology, and Microscopy will not 

 be forgotten ; but for these subjects we invite and shall 

 be glad to receive further aid. 



