PREFACE. 



With the present number another annual volume is brought to 

 a close — the sixth of the New Series. 



On looking over the list of contributors for the year, the Editor 

 cannot but congratulate himself upon the support which he has 

 received, no less than upon- the number and quality of the con- 

 tributions which have appeared. For these his best thanks are due 

 to the writers. While looking with satisfaction on the past, he is 

 encouraged to look also with hope to the future, in the expectation 

 of receiving no fewer favours in 1883 than it has been his good 

 fortune to receive in 1882. 



But one word is ringing in his ears — Progress ! There is room 

 for improvement, there is reason for advance, and it is believed that 

 some advance may be made in a new direction which will be agreeable 

 to the readers of ' The Zoologist.' 



Commencing with the number for January, 1883, it is proposed 

 to enlarge the scope of the "Occasional Notes" by substituting the 

 heading " Notes and Queries," in order to enable readers who may 

 not have any facts to communicate, to ask questions, if they are so 

 minded, which will be printed with the replies, either in the same or 

 a succeeding number, as the nature of the questions may permit. 



The adoption of this plan will lead to another innovation. It has 

 been a special feature in ' The Zoologist,' from its very commence- 

 ment, that no anonymous communications have been printed, and it 

 is still the Editor's opinion that all statements of facts should be 

 attested by genuine signatures. In this lies the value of the con- 

 tributions. But in regard to " Queries" the case is different, and the 

 Editor has good reason to know that many persons whose only desire 

 is to obtain reliable information, have a reluctance to append their 

 names to questions which may perhaps appear simple to more 

 experienced naturalists than themselves. 



It will therefore be competent to correspondents sending " Queries " 

 to adopt, if they please, some pseudonym or initials ; but in such cases 

 they should always communicate their real names and addresses 



