PREPACE. 
THE number of subscribers to ‘The Naturalist’ still continues 
by its steady increase to show that the journal, as a medium for 
inter-communication among naturalists in the North of England, 
is still appreciated by those for whose benefit it is carried on ; 
and the Editors have to thank their contributors for the great 
value and considerable interest of their communications. 
Reference to the preface of the last volume will show that 
hopes were entertained of a sufficiently large increase of circula- 
tion to enable illustrations to be regularly and systematically given. 
These hopes have not however been realized, much to the regret of 
the Editors, who would venture to ask the active influence of their 
subscribers towards this end. 
For the future, the sole Editorship devolves upon Mr. Roebuck, 
his colleague, Mr. Edgar R. Waite, having just been appointed by the 
Government of New South Wales to an important post in the 
Australian Museum at Sydney, upon the duties of which he is to 
enter in the spring of next year. He will carry with him into his 
new field of work the best wishes of all who had the privilege of 
knowing him, largely mingled with sincere regret for the loss 
which is sustained by natural history in his native land. 
