PREFACE. 
GrRatiTuDE has been defined as a lively sense of favours to 
come, and this definition not inaptly indicates the feelings of 
the Editor on taking up his pen to indite a few lines by way of 
Preface to the volume for 1879. 
Many articles of interest and value have appeared during the 
past year. Capt. Feilden’s ‘“‘ Notes from an Arctic Journal,” 
commenced in the preceding volume, have been brought to a 
conclusion, and furnish an excellent resumé of the work done 
by the naturalists to the last English Arctic Expedition. 
Mr. Ussher’s ‘“‘ Discovery of an Ossiferous Cavern in Water- 
ford,” and the account which he has given of the animal 
remains brought to light there, will be very acceptable to 
paleontologists. Dr. Murie’s instructive article ‘‘On Nocturnal 
Animals,”’ with illustrations of some of the more singular 
forms, deals with a subject not previously dwelt upon in 
this journal. On the subject of British Martens, Mr. Alston’s 
remarks (p. 441) suggest a new field of enquiry to those who 
may have opportunities of examining the skulls of any British- 
killed specimens; and while many other excellent papers have 
been furnished by field naturalists of the sterner sex, Miss 
Warren has shown by her article ‘‘On the Land and Fresh- 
water Shells of Mayo and Sligo” to what good account 
_ ladies may turn their opportunities, if residing in the country 
and possessing a taste for Natural History. 
In a different field of research, Mr. Cornish has given the 
result of his study of a rare British Crustacean obtained on 
the coast of Cornwall, and now figured (p. 473) for the first time. 
Mr. Wolf’s charming sketch of the Woodcock and young (p. 433) 
for truthful delineation will commend itself alike to naturalists 
and sportsmen. 
Amongst the translations from foreign journals which have 
appeared in the pages of ‘The Zoologist’ during the past year 
