VI 
PREFACE. 
the work or memoir^ and the Recorder may add any critical 
remarks which Jie thinks necessary for the object in view. 
2. To arrange the contents of all the publications systemati- 
cally in the second, special part of the Record. This part will 
contain almost all the abstracts of memoirs and papers, new 
systematic arrangements, and discoveries. Papers difficult of 
access to the generality of zoologists to be given more in detail 
than others. ... 
3. Of new genera short diagnoses are to be given, if, in the 
opinion of the Recorder, such genera are likely to take a place 
in the system, whilst the names only of subgeneric divisions are 
mentioned. All species described as new, with their habitats, 
and emended descriptions of known ones, are to be enume- 
rated, wit^ exact references to the several works and mention 
of accompanying illustrations. Diagnoses of new species to be 
given only when they are described in a journal or work difficult 
of access. 
4. The titles of anatomical papers to be given; but only those 
to be more specially treated which have a direct bearing pn 
the classification, specific definition, or the life-history of an 
animal, , , 
5. The boundary-line between popular and scientific literature 
having become of late rather indefinite, sncji popular publica- 
tions to be mentioned as deserve attention by their tendencjr 
to promote scientific knowledge, directly or indirectly. 
Since the publication of the ^ Record ^ has been ^nnounced^ 
the undertaking has met with a most favourable reception — 
its usefulness and necessity being acknowledged by al). The 
scientific part of the zoological literature of 1864, to which 
this volume forms a guide, amounts to more than 25,000 pages, 
which exceeds the original estimate derived from similar reports 
of former years, and must account for the excess of the number 
of pages of this volume beyond that given in the prospectus 
issued by the Publisher, 
The Editor and Contributors trust that they have been fairly 
successful in their endeavours to render the Records complete. 
The difficulties in this respect were not small, arising chiefly 
