PREFACE 



The issue of the December number terminates another volume 

 of ' The Zoologist,' and, although our pages have been neces- 

 sarily — and, we hope, temporarily — reduced to the status of a 

 previous standard, our contributors have worthily upheld the 

 zoological position of the Journal. 



In Mammalia, during what we may call the " Okapia" year, 

 we have published full obituary notices of the Quagga {Equus 

 quagga), and the Blaauwbok {Hippotragus leiicophceus) , and given 

 illustrations of those now apparently extinct South African 

 animals ; while from the same region we have received an 

 explanation of some tradition respecting the Scaly Ant-Eater 

 ( Mnis temmincki) . Our own British species have not been 

 neglected, and the notes thereon are as full and interesting as 

 usual. 



Of course, in Aves we have found our strength, and the 

 papers and notes thereon show no diminution in the activity of 

 our ornithological contributors. Among so much information 

 we can here refer to few features, but the record of the Wigeon 

 {Mareca penelope) breeding in Ireland, and that, of the American 

 Wigeon {M. americana) breeding in Iceland, are new facts of the 

 highest ornithological interest. 



Eeptilia have not incited so many recorded observations as 

 might have been wished, but we have noticed the publication of 

 a book on British species, in which is reproduced much that had 

 been previously recorded by the author in these pages. 



Pisces. — We are still anxious for more information on this 

 subject in ' The Zoologist.' At present there is a distinct 

 y slump " in Fish contributions. Perhaps the most interesting 

 i ■5ord we received was that of the occurrence of the File-Fish 

 •/ alistes capriscus) off Brighton. 



