IV PREFACE. 



has been published in its name ; M. Fabre, the great French 

 entomologist, has gone ; Mr. E. Lydekker, the well-known 

 palaeontologist and sound and dignified popularizer of the zoology 

 of the higher groups; Dr. E. A. Minchin, the celebrated proto- 

 zoologist ; Mr. E. Barrington, the veteran Irish naturalist, whose 

 first communication was made to the 'Zoologist,' which he 

 steadily supported for many years with numerous notes ; and 

 lastly, just as we go to press, we hear of the death of Mr. H. E. 

 Dresser, most kindly and sensible of ornithologists, and the 

 author of unrivalled works on the birds of Europe and of the 

 palaearctic region generally. Most of these, it is consoling to 

 reflect, had reached a ripe age, as students of our science so 

 commonly do. 



As against these melancholy happenings we have to record 

 the publication of some most important and interesting works. 

 Colonel T. Eoosevelt's book on the ' Life-histories of African Big 

 Game,' which, though by an American, is published here, with 

 its philosophical criticisms of current theories, and Mr. J. L. 

 Bonhote's book on ' Vigour and Heredity,' with its wealth of 

 experiment and lucid exposition, will be much heard of yet and 

 have a stimulating effect ; while Mr. A. Thorburn's magnificent 

 book on ' British Birds,' still in progress, touches the high- 

 water mark of excellence in production. Altogether, with much 

 to grieve for, we have much cause for thankfulness ; Britons are 

 holding their own in our science as well as in arms. 



