PREFACE. 
This volume will, it is believed, be found to contain 
several papers of enduring interest to naturalists. The 
Editors would be glad if their staff of contributors included 
a larger number of those residents in the Midland Counties 
who are authorities in some branch of natural science. They 
also invite all who can do so to send notes of carefully made 
personal observations, which are oftentimes of great value. 
