PREFACE. XV11 



certain species — such, for instance, as the brambling, siskin, honey- 

 buzzard, and others — occasionally appear in considerable numbers in 

 all the eastern counties : their advent is not strictly seasonal, neither 

 is their stay regulated by ascertained laws or causes, but, as far as we 

 yet know, is the result of caprice. 



I have to regret the comparative paucity of communications respect- 

 ing Fishes, Crustacea, Radiata and Zoophytes, and earnestly invite 

 the attention of naturalists residing near the coast to these interesting 

 divisions of the animal kingdom. 



I must agam call the attention of correspondents to the request I 

 have so frequently made as to the mode of preparing contributions. 

 Nothing should be introduced that is not intended for publication ; 

 all other matter should be restricted to a private note : all encomiums 

 on the ' Zoologist' or its Editor should be strictly avoided; however 

 kindly intended, their publication is not useful, and striking them out 

 of the proofs is often both troublesome and expensive : communica- 

 tions on various subjects should be written on separate pieces of 

 paper, or, if several are contained on one sheet, they should be so 

 separated as to allow of their being parted from each other for ar- 

 rangement, and nothing should ever be written on the back. All 

 names of insects must be written in full : a deviation from this rule 

 has compelled me to lay aside as useless many contributions which 

 appeared highly interesting. Lastly, the names of persons and 

 places should be written with peculiar and careful clearness, — thus 

 reversing the practice adopted in writing to a friend, when a mere 

 flourish of the pen is sufficient to express a locality or person equally 

 well known to both. I trust an adherence to these rules will not be 

 found very irksome; and I hope that T have no contributor who 

 would not incur some little trouble in our common cause. 



And now, in conclusion, I venture to express a hope that the 

 feeling of unmixed goodwill with which I regard all those who love 

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