PREFACE 



The most notable event to ornithologists during the past 

 year has been the meeting of the fourth International Ornitho- 

 logical Congress, which was held in London last June. With 

 that we may couple the interest aroused in the study of Dino- 

 saurs by the presentation of a reproduction of the skeleton of 

 Diplodocus caniegii to the British Museum. 



Our present volume exhibits no diminution in the number 

 or value of its contributions, while it is a matter of con- 

 gratulation to all concerned that few books are now published 

 on the British fauna without at least some, and usually many, 

 references to the pages of ' The Zoologist.' This year several 

 Orders have received considerable attention, and have been the 

 subjects of some permanent contributions. 



Mammalia. — Two new species of Gorals from British India 

 have been described ; the true position of Mus rattus and its 

 British allies has been discussed by one who is doing much 

 on the subject of our insular mammals ; the valuable series 

 of papers on the northern Seal and Whale industries have 

 been continued, as well as a host of smaller contributions, 

 which range from the disappearance of a local form of Squirrel 

 in India to a peculiar osteological variety found in the domestic 

 Cat at Yarmouth. 



Aves. — Our well-known contributors have continued their 

 county lists and bionomical observations. The birds of Wales 

 have now received very full attention in these pages, and it is 

 strange indeed that so much was hitherto unrecorded on the 



