A 555.7 
PREFACE. 
Again I have to introduce to the zoological public another 
volume of this work, and the last with which I shall have the 
honour of being connected. When^ in 1870, I accepted the 
Editorship of the present Annual, I did so simply in the hope 
that I might be enabled to continue what all who had know- 
ledge of it agreed in regarding as a great help to working zoolo- 
gists ; though circumstances, sufficiently explained in the preface 
to Volume VII., rendered it not unlikely that the undertaking 
might come to a sudden stop. That hope, through the generous 
support I received, was abundantly fulfilled ; but I never in- 
tended to retain the office of Editor, which I knew would be 
onerous enough, after I had secured the services of a willing 
and competent successor. 
Such a successor I happily found in Mr. Rye, who has most 
admirably discharged the duties of Subeditor of this and the 
preceding volume. Being fully assured of his fitness for the 
task which he expressed his readiness to perform, I, more than 
a year ago, tendered my resignation of the Editorship to the 
Council of the Zoological Record Association ; and this resig- 
nation being accepted in a manner very gratifying to me, I had 
the further satisfaction of seeing Mr. Rye appointed in my 
room. 
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M 9b 1 02 
