PREPACE. 
Tue Editor has to renew his thanks to his supporters, both those 
who have contributed notes and articles, and those who have 
furnished the necessary financial support without which no magazine 
can exist, 
He has particularly to thank his botanical friends for the 
manner in which their department has been much better repre- 
sented this year than in former years. It is, however, to be 
desired that the votaries of other departments of our field of 
research will follow the example of our botanical friends, and 
assist the Editor in keeping the journal well supplied with suitable 
and interesting matter. Biological articles are always gladly 
accepted, the only proviso being that they are in some way 
connected with the northern counties of England for which it is 
the aim of this journal specially to cater. 
Illustrations will be gladly given, but to do this systematically 
a much larger amount of support is requisite. Will our readers 
therefore interest their friends with the view of an immediate and 
large increase in the number of supporters of a journal which has 
existed at various times ever since the year 1836. The first 
series of ‘The Naturalist,’ edited by Messrs. B. Maund and 
W. Holl, afterwards by Neville Wood, ran to five volumes during 
the years 1836 to 1839, the last four volumes being published at 
Doncaster. The second series of ‘The Naturalist’ was published 
at York in the years 1851 to 1858, under the successive editor- 
ships of Dr. B. R. Morris and the Rev. F. O. Morris, and ran 
to eight volumes. The third series of ‘The Naturalist’ consisted 
_ of two complete volumes and an incomplete third one; it was 
published at Huddersfield under anonymous editorship from 1864 
to 1867. The fourth series was commenced in 1875, under the 
editorship of Messrs. C. P. Hobkirk and G. T. Porritt, by whom 
nine annual volumes were published at Huddersfield. In 1884 
the place of publication was transferred to Leeds, since which it 
has appeared regularly under varying editorship. 
