EDITORIAL NOTE. 



IN presenting " VOLUME V. INVERTEBRATES " to the scientific world, special thanks 

 are due to all the authors who have given their time and best work to its pro- 

 duction, and whose names appear on the title-page. 



As will be seen, there has been no hesitation in going to the specialist, who 

 is facile princeps in his group. Besides being a monument of what national 

 spirit in Scotland can accomplish, it is a demonstration of the international spirit of 

 science, which is ready to award its laurels irrespective of nationality. In this volume 

 France, Germany, England, and Ireland have joined hands with Scotland to give the 

 world their best. 



The cost of publication has been considerably reduced by the co-operation of 

 the Royal Society of Edinburgh, that has in most cases passed the communications 

 through the Transactions, and has in this way helped by bearing primary costs. 

 Thus, not only was the publication less costly, but communications were made 

 immediately the work was finished, and wider distribution was given to the work 

 of the " Scotia " naturalists. Antipatharians have been passed through the Pro- 

 ceedings of the Royal Physical Society ; and in the case of the expensive cchinoderm 

 monograph, "Scotia" publication funds helped the Royal Society of Edinburgh to 

 the extent of 86. 



It has not been thought desirable to wait for those who have been slower 

 than their colleagues, or for the account of some material for which specialists 

 have not yet been found. Consequently, the different monographs appear in order 

 of publication. On each monograph the actual dates of completion, communication, 

 and issue appear, and also the original source of publication, and no confusion 

 of priority should thus occur. 



It should be noted that, while most of the communications deal with Antarctic 

 and Subantarctic species, some deal with Subtropical and Tropical forms collected 

 on the outward and homeward passages of the " Scotia,." In some cases supple- 

 mentary papers will be published. 



WILLIAM S. BRUCE, 



Editor. 



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