PREFACE TO THE THIRD SERIES. 



After a second interval of ten years, the Editors have to an- 

 nounce the commencement of a Third Series of the ''Annals." 

 They avail themselves of this opportunity to remind Naturalists, 

 that their principal object in dividing the work into distinct 

 series of twenty volumes, occupying ten years in their publica- 

 tion, was to furnish convenient periodical starting-points for 

 new readers, desirous of subscribing to the Journal, but deterred 

 from so doing by their objection to beginning with a volume 

 having a high number on its title-page. 



The continued support which has been afforded to the Editors 

 in their undertaking, leads them to believe that they have not 

 been unsuccessful in their endeavours to provide the scientific 

 public with a valuable monthly Journal of Natural History. 

 The pleasant retrospect, which, while reminding them of the kind 

 assistance which they have received for so many years from the 

 first Naturalists of this country, warrants a dependence on the 

 continuance of the same friendly aid, is, however, sadly clouded 

 by the remembrance of the many active coadjutors who, within 

 a short space, have been snatched away from the scene of their 

 labours by the hand of death. The deaths of Professor Edward 

 Forbes, William Thompson, H. E. Strickland, of William Yarrell, 

 Dr. George Johnston, and still more recently, of Professor 



