PREFACE. 
Ir some shadow of regret is caused by the reflection that 
another year has passed away since the Editor indited a 
Preface to ‘The Zoologist,’ there is at least this consolation 
to be found that the year has not been spent idly. Many 
workers have been busy in the field of Zoology, and the result 
of their labours and investigations has been generously com- 
municated to this Journal to afford pleasure and instruction 
to others. Indeed on glancing over the Index to the annual 
volume, the Editor feels that he has good cause to be grateful 
to the many correspondents who have favoured him with com- 
munications during the past year. In almost every branch of 
Zoology some contribution to knowledge has been made. 
In the case of Mammats, Mr. A. H. Cocks has given an 
interesting account of the result of his enquiries in Norway 
concerning the survival of the Beaver in that country, an 
account rendered all the more valuable from the regrettable 
fact that the extinction of this animal in Europe cannot be 
very far distant. The same contributor’s remarks on the 
question of the specific identity of the Ferret and Polecat will 
be acceptable to those still sceptical on the subject. 
There is still much to be learnt concerning the distribution 
of the smaller British mammals, and such items of intelligence 
as those communicated by Mr. D’Urban on the Red Field Vole 
in Devonshire (p. 487), Mr. Rope on the Harvest Mouse in 
Suffolk (p. 57), and Messrs. Chichester Hart, Cordeaux, and 
Parker on the occurrence of the Pine Marten in their respective 
districts are always welcome. 
Comparatively few observers are so situated as to have oppor- 
tunities of studying the Marine Mammalia, and hence such 
observations as those on the Great Grey Seal by Mr. Warren 
(p. 858) and on the White-beaked Dolphin by Mr. Southwell 
(p- 220) are — more acceptable. 
