PREFACE. Xlll 



A most interesting addition has been made to our batrachian Rep- 

 tiles in the Triton palmipes of Daudin. The first notice of this sala- 

 mander as an inhabitant of Britain occurs in the July number (Zool. 

 2149), and is from the pen of Mr. J. Wolley ; the information is con- 

 firmed and the range of habitat extended by Mr. Baker (Zool. 2198) ; 

 its specific identity is settled by M. Deby (Zool. 2231) ; and, finally, 

 its northward range to the extreme point of Scotland is shown by 

 Mr. J. Wolley (Zool. 2265). The addition of a well-ascertained spe- 

 cies to so small a group as our batrachian reptiles is a matter of great 

 importance. 



Mr. R. Q. Couch concludes his most valuable ' Notes on the 

 Fishes of the District of the Land's End,' in the January number 

 (Zool. 1972); and Mr. J. Couch contributes an interesting paper in 

 the same number (Zool. 1980), on the ' Egg-purse and Embryo of a 

 Species of Myliobatis,' found a few miles from Fowey, on the coast 

 of Cornwall. 



In Crustacea we have had the most important discovery that the 

 present century has furnished. A number of extremely large and 

 beautiful specimens of the Cancer dormia of Linneus (the Dromia 

 vulgaris of Milne-Edwards) have been taken on the coast of Sussex 

 (Zool. 2325). For this most valuable addition to the Fauna of the 

 British Islands we are indebted to Messrs. George and Henry Ingall, 

 whose indefatigable exertions in the cause of Natural History have 

 been rewarded by great success, as their rich collections abundantly 

 attest. 



It is, however, in Insects that our favourite science has made the 

 greatest advance ; and first I must mention Lepidoptera : the past 

 summer has been unfavourable to the development of this beautiful 

 class, the temperature lower than usual, the wind frequently boister- 

 ous, and the rain in many parts of the Kingdom almost continuous : 

 the occurrence of rarities among the larger and more conspicuous 

 Lepidoptera has not been observed. One beautiful Geometra, 



