MIDLAND NATURALIST. 3 
ranging all across from the Atlantic to and throughout the Prairie 
Region, but now the newest book attributes to the Prairie States at 
least a dozen sorts as peculiar to this region. 
Many another genus of trees is now of late represented as hav- 
ing species restricted,to the Midland; and the like showing is made 
in the case of many an alliance of humbler plants. The Blue-eyed 
Grass, Sisyrinchium, in regard to which it was until lately taught 
in all the books, that there is no distinction between eastern kinds 
and middle-western kinds, it is now affirmed—and none question 
it—that no less than eight species are peculiar to the Prairie 
West, four of them,—S. hastili, S. Farwellii, S. strictum, and $. 
apiculatum not having yet been found outside the State of 
Michigan. 
he few examples thus brought forward may sufficiently in- 
dicate the suitability of our having here in the midst of this 
interesting and still new field, a journalistic medium of intercom- 
munication and publication of Midland nature students, and this 
without thought of rivalry with old and well established journals, 
most of them general in their character and almost without local 
tinge. 
Local journals such as the Ottawa Naturalist, Rhodora, the 
Ohio Naturalist and others all seem to have their mission and are 
fulfilling it well. / The Midland Naturalist, while it may not hope 
soon to emulate the least of the forgoing, has certainly its own 
floral and faunal territory, and one that to the present time has 
remained unoccupied journalistically. In our investigations of 
biological and kindred subjects at Notre Dame we have for some time 
realized the desirability of having some ready medium of publica- 
tion for matter appertaining to those branches of Natural History 
to which attention has been given. In this venture, therefore, we 
are meeting, first of all, a demand of our own. ough there is 
such a vast field for research on the plant and animal life of our 
Middle Western country, studies in general biological science and 
related subjects will not be excluded from our interest. Articles 
on General Morphology, Ecology, Histology, Physiology, Taxonomy, 
and the History of Botany and Zoology, etc., will at all times be 
welcomed to these pages. It is hoped, however, that the Midland 
Naturalist may meet with some welcome, and prove a stimulus and 
help to many a Midland nature student, not only in colleges and 
universities, but also to the equally interested and efficient workers 
in private life outside of schools. 
