This rapid summary of those contributions which are more particularly designed for future reference conveys a very imperfect idea of the amusement and instruction contained in the volume; but were I to attempt to classify, or even enumerate, the lighter contributions, I should extend my address beyond all reasonable bounds, without conferring any corresponding benefit on my readers. : A few words as regards the future. Most earnestly do I solicit the continued co-operation of my contributors. The earliest announcement of the occurrence of a new or rare Quadruped, Bird, Reptile, Fish, Mollusk, Crustaceous animal, or Insect, will be most thankfully received if new, I hope the announcement will always be accompanied by a description, and, if practicable, by a figure; and if the object should not be new, but have been previously described or figured • as British, then a figure or description should be referred to, and the date, locality and other particulars given with scrupulous care and accuracy. I have already ventured to suggest (Zool. 2295) an altered form for the local lists of birds, and have referred--as an example of the mode in which it may be carried out-to the Appendix of the lately-published 'Letters of Rusticus,' a work which I presume is now generally distributed among British ornithologists. I heartily wish that my ornithological correspondents would devote some time to the subject, each, in his own neighbourhood, endeavouring to compile an exact statistical account of the birds which reside in or visit it: in the preparation of such statistics I consider it a matter of great importance to ascertain with precision the presence or absence, at the various seasons of the year, of those which are esteemed the commoner British birds. The occasional appearance of a North-American, or African, or European species, is to be recorded of course; likewise the capture of sea-fowl in a midland county; but the legitimate object of a local list is to exhibit, at one point of view, the species which habitually and of choice frequent a given locality, and to indicate whether their tarriance is constant or seasonal. Even among occasional visitors there is much to be learned: it will be found that certain species--such, for instance, as the brambling, siskin, honeybuzzard, and others-occasionally appear in considerable numbers in all the eastern counties: their advent is not strictly seasonal, neither is their stay regulated by ascertained laws or causes, but, as far as we yet know, is the result of caprice. I have to regret the comparative paucity of communications respecting Fishes, Crustacea, Radiata and Zoophytes, and earnestly invite the attention of naturalists residing near the coast to these interesting divisions of the animal kingdom. I must again call the attention of correspondents to the request I have so frequently made as to the mode of preparing contributions. Nothing should be introduced that is not intended for publication; all other matter should be restricted to a private note: all encomiums on the Zoologist' or its Editor should be strictly avoided; however kindly intended, their publication is not useful, and striking them out of the proofs is often both troublesome and expensive: communications on various subjects should be written on separate pieces of paper, or, if several are contained on one sheet, they should be so separated as to allow of their being parted from each other for arrangement, and nothing should ever be written on the back. All names of insects must be written in full: a deviation from this rule has compelled me to lay aside as useless many contributions which appeared highly interesting. Lastly, the names of persons and places should be written with peculiar and careful clearness,—thus reversing the practice adopted in writing to a friend, when a mere flourish of the pen is sufficient to express a locality or person equally well known to both. I trust an adherence to these rules will not be found very irksome; and I hope that I have no contributor who would not incur some little trouble in our common cause. And now, in conclusion, I venture to express a hope that the feeling of unmixed goodwill with which I regard all those who love VI C Nature for her own sake, is in some measure returned by my very numerous readers: the belief, backed by frequent individual assurances, that such is the case, is an appropriate and abundantly ample reward for the unceasing, though agreeable, labour of superintending the publication of the 'Zoologist.' EDWARD NEWMAN. 9, Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate, November 27, 1848. Colias Edusa near Broadway, 1985; Provincial names of birds in Glou- cestershire and Worcestershire, 2290 Description of Microsetia quinquella, a new species of moth of the family BENTLEY, WILLIAM Sagacity of a cat, 2008 Extremely large red grouse, 2023 Variety of the common squirrel, 1957; Larva of the death's head moth, 1985; Locust at Whitley and near Newcastle-on-Tyne, 2001; Bohe- mian waxwing near Newcastle-on- Tyne, 2019; Bohemian waxwing at Earsdon, Northumberlaud, 2064; Common bittern at Prestwick Car 2066; Green sandpiper at Cambo, throated diver at Cullercoats, Nor- thumberland, 2067; Capture of a BOND, FREDERICK Young of the little bittern near En- White spoonbill in Sussex, 2066; Rooks building, 2189; Provincial BRIGGS, J. J. Note on cows having twin calves, 1957; Rare birds in Derbyshire, 1966; Ha- bits of the stock dove, 2021; Fauna of Melbourne, 2278; Is the house sparrow injurious or beneficial to BROMFIELD, W. A., M,D., F.L.S. Note on the natterjack and tree frog, 2304; Inquiry respecting Colias Inquiry respecting the characters which distinguish the young of the black- backed gull from the young of the glaucous gull, 2027; Inquiry re- specting the egg and nest of the Notes on some of the rarer British birds as observed in the south of Coleoptera of Northamptonshire, 2045 Inquiry respecting the migration of Female fowl in plumage of male, 1969; Peronea permutana at New Brighton, 2271; Description of a sandpiper shot near Bootle, 2303 COOKSON, ISAAC Capture of a snake in a mole trap, 2028; Snakes destructive to mice, 2074; Habits of a sea-gull, 2149 COOPER, REV. W. W. Red-throated diver at Worcester, 1969, 2027; Great sea-serpent, 2192 COUCH, JONATHAN, F.L.S. On the egg-purse and embryo of a species of Myliobatis, 1980; Locust in Cornwall, 2001 COUCH, R. Q. Nesting of the siskin near Durham, 2188 DAWSON, REV. J. F., M.A. Notes on the capture of Harpalidæ and the allied families in the Isle of Wight, 2110; Capture of Coleoptera at Whittlesea Mere, 2113; Notes on the Halticæ of the Isle of Wight, 2114; Capture of Lixus bicolor, Hypera fasciculata, &c., 2275 DEBY, JULIAN Note on the occurrence of Turdus mi- DOUBLEDAY, HENRY Females of Zeuzera Arundinis, 2236; Harpalyce sagittaria near Peterborough, 2236 DOUGLAS, J. W. A word on long series, 1983; Captures DRUMMOND, EDGAR, Lieut. R.N. Capture of Vanessa Antiopa at Bishop's Auckland, 2032; Locust at Bishop's Auckland, 2046; On the partial migration of birds, 2071; Sphinx Druræi at Bishop's Auckland, 2076; Singular proof of reasoning in a canary, 2144; Additional note on the chaffinch, 2144; Hoopoe near Sunderland, 2190; On killing insects by heated air, 2222 DUNN, ROBERT Surf scoter in Shetland, 2067; Glaucous gull and Iceland gull, 2070; Some notes on the birds of Shetland, 2187; Note respecting the gray phalarope, the red-necked phalarope and the great northern diver, 2230 DUNNING, J. Ŵ. Capture of Agrophila sulphuralis, 2199 ELLMAN, JAMES B. Hops attractive to moths, 1985; Gastropacha quercifolia at Battel, 1986; Locust at Battel, 2002; White variety of the swallow and pale variety of the martin, 2021; Bittern at Battel, 2023; Capture of Lepidoptera at Battel, 2031; Stormy petrel at Hailsham, 2073; White variety of the blackbird, 2142; Little bittern at Ewhurst and Ledlescomb, 2147; Little crake at Seaford, 2148; Crested grebe at Battel, 2148; Note on an egg of the blackbird, 2188; Capture of Ephyra orbicularia, &c., at Battel, Note on Chlorissa punctaria, Note on Grammesia trilinea, Note on Dasychira pudibunda, Nettles attractive to moths, 2199; Anecdote of a rat, 2223; Vanessa Antiopa near Battel, Capture of Pterophorus pulveridactylus at Battel, Capture of Lepidoptera at Battel, 2236; Bats flying by day, 2289; Early arrival of fieldfares and snipes near Battel, 2298; |