Calcutta Journal of Natural History. 3 



be conducted by separate individuals. It is to be regretted 

 however that circumstances at present are not such as to 

 allow us to carry this wish into effect. 



It would be impossible to define exactly the different 

 subjects which will legitimately come within the province of 

 our Journal, so as to lay down any rules for the manner in 

 which they are to be treated. 



There are however some subjects, such as Topography, 

 Geography, Meteorology, Statistics, &c. which though not 

 strictly within the province of Natural History, are yet so 

 intimately connected with it as to render it impossible to 

 exclude them, and indeed when well executed they form 

 works of the very highest interest, and will, together with 

 journals and miscellaneous observations of naturalists, be al- 

 ways acceptable. 



Geology is so connected with Natural History as to be 

 almost identified with it, since a knowledge of living forms 

 cannot be accurately appreciated without reference to those 

 that have become extinct, nor these last, which we owe to 

 the observations of geologists, without reference to existing 

 species. Geological descriptions of districts will therefore 

 form a much desired object of our Journal. 



The philosophical subjects of comparative anatomy and 

 physiology have hitherto been hardly entered upon in India, 

 although the exuberance of both the animal and vegetable 

 kingdoms afford facilities rarely presented in other parts of 

 the world for researches of this nature. 



On the subject of Natural History generally, it would be 

 presumptuous in us to offer any suggestions to the class of 

 contributors whose support we shall endeavour to merit, 



