PREFACE. 



The Editors have to express their thanks to the contributors whose 

 writings have maintained the excellence of the journal at the high 

 level of previous years, and to the subscribers who by their support 

 show their appreciation of the efforts both of Editors and contributors 

 to make The Naturalist a trustworthy repertory of information 

 concerning the natural history of Northern England. 



The Editors would be pleased if during the coming year their 

 supporters would contribute papers and notes relating to those 

 counties which reference to the indexes of this and previous volumes 

 will demonstrate to have been somewhat neglected. 



They also wish to bespeak the assistance of their friends in 

 improving the circulation so as to enable them to realise the wish — 

 much-cherished yet much-disappointed — to enhance its usefulness 

 by giving illustrations more frequently than the exiguity of their 

 financial position has permitted in the past. 



The Editors have arranged for a paper by their old friend, 

 Mr. John Cordeaux, upon the Isle of Heligoland and upon its 

 intimate connection through bird-migration with Northern England, 

 to appear in the January number, and to be illustrated by autotype 

 photographs of the famous garden in which so many rarities have 

 been observed. 



The Bibliography will be resumed in 1888, its non-appearance 

 during 1887 having been caused by pressure of original papers and 

 notes. The Editors regard it as of the highest value, and are happy 

 to know that this opinion is widely shared amongst the supporters of 

 their journal. 



