iv PREFACE. 
book on Irish Song Birds (p. 384) be left unmentioned, seeing the 
good example which it sets to other resident naturalists in Ireland. 
Of the longer and more important articles which have appeared in 
these pages during the past year a few may be specially noticed as of 
more than ordinary interest. Amongst these are Mr. Seebohm’s critical 
reviews of the genera Hamatopus (pp. 41-49) and Nwmenius (pp. 
187-148), and the same writer’s interesting remarks (p. 225) on the 
Pheasant of St. Helena, Phasianus torquatus, which, although imported 
thither more than 800 years ago, and subjected to a different climate 
and new conditions of life, has in all that time altered so little as to 
be practically indistinguishable at the present day from examples of 
the parent stock from China. 
There is still so much to be learnt respecting the Cetacea, that Mr. 
Southwell’s account of the voyage of ‘The Eclipse’ (pp. 50-54) and 
Mr. Heneage Cocks’ Report on the Finwhale Fishery on the North 
European Coast (pp. 121-186) are useful contributions towards the 
life-history of these marine monsters. 
An article on ‘‘ Beavers and their ways” (pp. 265-286) embodies 
the chief facts of interest concerning the structure, habits, systematic 
position, and present geographical distribution of these curious 
animals in Europe and America, with remarks on the former existence 
of Beavers in Great Britain. 
From an archeological point of view the facts stated in an article 
‘** On the former Nesting of the Spoonbill in Middlesex” (pp. 81-88), 
illustrated by Charles Whymper, are of special interest to orni- 
thologists, since they relate to a hitherto unsuspected breeding-haunt 
of a very singular bird, whose nesting in England has not been 
recorded oftener than on two previous occasions. 
The advent to this country of birds, which are either visitors for 
the first time or of very rare occurrence here, is always a matter of 
interest. During the past year the following species have been 
reported to have been met with, namely :—The Continental Black- 
headed Bunting E'mberiza melanocephala (p.78), the Nutcracker (p. 182), 
Tengmalm’s Owl (p. 214), Blue Throat (p. 249), Icterine Warbler (pp. 
338, 834), Yellow-browed Warbler (p. 487), Tawny Pipit and Citril 
Finch (p. 490), King Duck and Hooded Merganser (p. 885). 
The variety of these communications (with others which we have 
not space to notice) betokens a degree of activity amongst the con- 
tributors to this journal which is very satisfactory. The editor would 
fain hope that in the new year which is about to commence he may 
continue to receive no less convincing proofs of the interest which 
they take in this publication, and the cause which it is intended to 
serve. 
It should be borne in mind by the readers of ‘The Zoologist’ 
that the contributors really make it what it is, and that if any im- 
provement be still needed it rests with them to effect it. 
It seems not too much to expect that a journal like ‘ The Zoologist,’ 
which has been in progress for more than forty years, should continue 
to receive that genuine support from naturalists which its proprietor, 
Mr. Newman, has so long, with public spirit, endeavoured to deserve. 
J. H. H, 
