lv PREFACE. 
As regards Brrps, numerous interesting communications 
have been received during the past year, amongst which some 
half-dozen especially deserve mention, namely, the Report on 
Migration by Messrs. Harvie Brown and Cordeaux (pp. 161—204), 
' Mr. Howard Saunders’ account of the habits of the Skuas as 
observed in Shetland (p. 1), Mr. Chichester Hart’s Notes on the 
Ornithology of the British Polar Expedition, 1875-6 (pp. 121, 
204), Mr. Seebohm’s papers on the habits of the Marsh Warbler 
(p. 8377) and nesting of the Spoonbill (p. 457). The occurrence 
of the Needle-tailed Swift for the second time in England, of 
which so pleasing an account (with a figure of the bird) has been 
given by Mr. Corbin (p. 81), is too remarkable to pass unnoticed, 
while many others might be mentioned which bear testimony to 
the careful attention which is being paid to Ornithology in 
various parts of the kingdom. 
On Repries at least one communication has appeared 
(p. 408) ; more would have been welcome 
On the subject of Fisnes, Dr. Day has favoured us with 
several interesting and valuable papers, such as those ‘‘ On the 
Air-bladders of Fish” (p. 97), ‘‘On the Origin of Varieties in 
Salmonide” (p. 183), and ‘‘ The Fresh-water Fishes of India” 
(pp. 431, 461) ; while Messrs. D’Urban, Gatcombe, and Cornish 
have recorded the capture of several rare or little-known fishes 
on the sea-board of Devon and Cornwall. Mr. Carrington’s 
position as Naturalist at the Westminster Aquarium has enabled 
him to supply some interesting notes at Various times on rare 
British Crustacea and Raprata (as at p. 72); nor have the 
Mouuvuscea (pp. 222, 367) or the AnneLIpEs (p. 409) been un- 
cared for. 
It is thus pleasant to find workers in so many branches 
of Zoology communicating so agreeably the results of their 
researches. From the increasing interest which is being mani- 
fested in the study of Natural History, the Editor is induced to 
hope that he may long continue to receive such interesting 
articles as those with which he has been favoured during the 
past year—articles which establish such pleasant relationship 
with the writers, and so agreeably lighten the task of editing. 
J. HE. H. 
