PREFACE. 

Tue present volume affords practical proof—if such were 
> needed—of the value of the information to be found in our 
“Notes and Queries.”” Such a subject as the well-known and 
familiar perching of Starlings on the backs of Sheep would 
strike most of us as a tale that was told and required no repe- 
tition, but Mr. Stubbs has raised questions thereon which deal 
with locality of occurrence and race of the species which follows 
that habit (?). Other contributors have also made original 
suggestions, such as to the breed of Sheep thus frequented by 
the Starling (?), and also as to the object and consequences of 
the practice (?). With such an experience, who can undervalue 
the ultimate importance of observations which on their face 
value often appear trivial and trite? Our pages for 1912 also 
contain papers and notes on most branches of zoology; per- 
haps, however, British Mammals have found fewer observers 
and recorders. If the “‘ proper study of mankind is man,” we 
still receive no notes on the genus Homo, nor records of finds 
of his ancient weapons or utensils, nor details of discovery of 
arly burials. These subjects are not outside the purview of 
‘Tue Zoonoacist.’ Neither is general paleontology—especially 
so far as Britain is concerned—foreign to our pages. 
Perhaps nothing in the editorial range of duties is more 
painful than that of annually recording those who have fallen 
from our ranks, some being personal friends, at least all well 
known as naturalists. This year three valued contributors 
