XIV 



PREFACE. 



Species of general occurrence must be entirely omitted ; generic 

 and specific names must be written in full, and intelligibly, so 

 that there shall be no necessity for my transcribing the MSS. ; 

 dates and exact localities must be given, and the mode of cap- 

 ture specified. On subjects generally, I hope my contributors 

 will write their communications as they are desired to appear, 

 giving each its proper designation, and writing nothing on the 

 back; when a number of matters are related in a closely written 

 or crossed letter, the permission to extract what I please is often 

 unavailing, and the letter is laid by for an indefinite period, in 

 the fruitless expectation that I shall some day have leisure to 

 make the desired quotations. With regard to not answering letters, I 

 must claim some indulgence ; to answer with my own hand all I 

 receive, is physically impossible, even though I gave up all other 

 occupation : those correspondents, therefore, who have not received 

 answers, must kindly attribute the seeming neglect to its true 

 cause. 



In conclusion, 1 beg again to offer my best thanks both to 

 contributors and subscribers, more especially to those who have 

 laboured so successfully in advocating the cause, promoting the 

 sale, and augmenting the utility, and consequent popularity of 

 the ' Zoologist. 1 



EDWARD NEWMAN. 



9, Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate, 



