PREFACE. 
The completion of another volume of the “ Midland 
Naturalist” once more gives us an opportunity, of which we 
gladly avail ourselves, of offering to all our fellow-workers a 
full meed of thanks for the kindly assistance they have 
rendered us. Amongst our contributors it gives us especial 
pleasure to welcome some new-comers; while, at the same 
time, many who have worked with us for years have still 
continued their valued and valuable co-operation. And to 
these we wish to add another group of contributors, whose 
labours are periodical and unostentatious, namely, the various 
secretaries through whose thoughtful care the reports of the 
meetings of the local Natural History Societies are provided 
for our pages. 
Still, however, we want recruits. Whether the restless¬ 
ness of foreign politics has affected us, or not, we cannot 
say, but we want to raise our peace footing to something 
considerably above its present strength, and our reserves are 
not nearly large enough for our wishes. No doubt a large 
increase in the ranks of our fellow-workers would diminish 
our own responsibilities, but we are quite prepared to face this 
contingency with equanimity. 
Particularly we hope to enlist the sympathies and aid of 
more secretaries of [Societies, so many of whom (belonging to 
the M. U. of N. H. S.) take no part in our work. If they 
would all make a point of sending to us reports of the 
meetings of their respective Societies, and would contribute, 
if only occasionally, some paper communicated to them, they 
would furnish a steady and reliable source of supply. Specially 
we would ask for the annual addresses of the various presidents, 
it being borne in mind that their appearance in the “ Midland 
Naturalist ” in no way affects disadvantageous^, but rather 
facilitates, their separate publication, should this be desired. 
These addresses are generally of interest far beyond the circle 
to which they are delivered, and, as our experience has shown, 
would form a welcome and attractive feature in the pages of 
the “ Midland Naturalist.” 
