PREFACE. 



On the completion of the nineteenth vohime of the 'Zoologist' I have 

 much pleasure in once more offering my sincere thanks to subscribers 

 and contributors for their continued assistance and support : I regret 

 to see so formidable a list of my own contributions, but this feeling is 

 somewhat mitigated by finding that these are as brief as they are 

 numerous, and also by the knowledge that I have never excluded the 

 observations of another to make room for my own : I may add, that 

 scarcely a line I have written owes its existence to what has been 

 called the cacoethes scrihendi, each brief memoi'andum being little 

 more than a compilation from materials obligingly placed in my 

 hands for the express purpose of publication. 



Concerning papers reprinted from other works I trust there will be but 

 one opinion : it seems to me that the ' Zoologist' would be incomplete 

 were I not to incorporate these gems of Natural- History literature 

 with the interesting communications designed expressly for these 

 pages; but, much as I value them, I may truly say I have never 

 published such extracts to the exclusion of original contributions. 



With regard to the able and logical remarks lately published on 

 the ' Origin of Species,' I wish to disclaim both the merit and the 

 responsibility of the opinions expressed : I desire to reserve my own 

 views on this deeply interesting subject until more mature considera- 

 tion may render that opinion worthy of respect : nevertheless I am 

 glad to bear my willing testimony to the fact that Mr. Darwin's pro- 

 found knowledge, chivalrous fairness and extreme courtesy have 

 combined in giving him an advantage over many of the incompetent 

 and irascible critics who have heretofore assailed him : in the 

 'Zoologist' Mr. Darwin has received fair play; and should the 

 strictures in its pages prove more damaging to his theory than any 

 previous review, it will certainly be because their tone and character 

 are more accordant with the spirit in which that theory is explained 

 and advocated by himself. 



Several very interesting problems in Natural History still await 

 solution, and the ' Zoologist' is the only journal in which such solution 

 can be brought before those who will regard it with real interest. 



