PREFACE. 



In offering a few remarks by way of Preface to the Volume for 1887 

 wbicli is concluded with the issue of the present number, the Editor 

 desires to thank very cordially all those contributors who during the 

 past year have given him their support and encouragement. The 

 number and variety of the articles which have been contributed to 

 the present Volume must strike every reader who glances at their 

 titles, no less than the number of full-page illustrations which through 

 the liberality of Mr. Newman have been expressly drawn and litho- 

 graphed for "this Journal. These plates it may be observed, as well as 

 the articles which they have been designed to illustrate, are intended 

 to bring home to the reader a more accurate impression of the actual 

 appearance and habits of some of the smaller British Mammaha, 

 which either from the nature of their haunts or from their retired 

 mode of life are apt to escape the attention of all but the raost 

 observant. The plan pursued has been to have the original drawmgs 

 made from the life if possible, or at least h-orn perfectly fresh speci- 

 mens while still in the flesh. In this way the natural features are 

 preserved which otherwise would be lost in the process of drying and 

 shrinking. 



In the case of the Greenland Whale, Bal(Bna mysticetus, the plate 

 of this species issued with the April number was prepared h-orn an 

 original sketch by Capt. David Gray, drawn to scale after careful 

 measurements of a recently captured specimen ; so that it would be 

 impossible to have any more satisfactory figure except by the aid of 

 photography, which in the case of so large an animal could not well be 

 applied. 



As it is proposed to continue the series (so far as it may extend to 

 the more uncommon species), those who may have opportunities for 

 procuring specimens of such as are needed for illustration will 

 materially aid the scheme by forwarding the same to the Editor. At 

 present the desiderata are the rarer specimens of Bats which have not 

 yet been figured in the series, and the three species of British Shrews. 



At the same time any notes which may help in tracing the 

 distribution of these mammals in the British Islands, or throw light 

 on their life-history, will be very acceptable. 



Attention may be here directed to the fact that comparatively little 

 has been published on the Zoology of Wales, and the Editor notes 

 with regret how few correspondents he has in any of the Welsh 

 Counties. He would urge all those who may have friends in the 



/ /- 



