PREFACE. 



In spite of the dread crisis this country, and to a certain 

 degree the whole of civilization, is now encountering, zoology as 

 a study is showing a marvellous amount of vitality ; the Zoo 

 gains a full attendance of visitors, and all our leading animal 

 dealers are still in business ; zoological periodicals maintain 

 their issues, and, in particular, the ' Zoologist ' not only does this, 

 but, in the seventy-second year of its existence, shows itself as 

 strong as ever it was, and very much stronger than it has been 

 for many years. That the longer papers should come in regularly 

 was only to be expected in the case of a journal so hospitable as 

 ours has always been ; what is particularly interesting and 

 important as a sign of vitality is the abundance of short notes, 

 which this year average nearly a dozen per month, a number far 

 greater than has been approached for several years past. This is 

 as it should be, and is in accordance with the character of the 

 ' Zoologist ' as the most typically English of zoological publica- 

 tions, and that which most nearly approaches the character of 

 a national institution among them. For this relief from the fear 

 which must necessarily overshadow a small specialist publication 

 in troublous times like these, we owe sincere thanks to our 

 supporters both new and old, to the contributors of long articles 

 and short notes alike, and we feel that they share our gratifica- 

 tion in the happy result to the magazine. 



There is enough, too, to sadden us at this time quite apart 

 from the world-war, for the hand of death has been heavy on 

 those connected with zoology during the past year. Not only 

 have we had to record the death of our proprietor, Mr. T. P. 

 Newman, whose public -spirited maintenance of our Journal was 

 of greater service to science than many a bulky volume that 



