Species of general occurrence must be entirely omitted ; generic and specific names must be written in full, and intelligibly, so that there shall be no necessity for my transcribing the MSS. ; dates and exact localities must be given, and the mode of cap- ture specified. On subjects generally, I hope my contributors will write their communications as they are desired to appear, giving each its proper designation, and writing nothing on the back; when a number of matters are related in a closely written or crossed letter, the permission to extract what I please is often unavailing, and the letter is laid by for an indefinite period, in the firuitless expectation that I shall some day have leisure to make the desired quotations. With regard to not answering letters, I must claim some indulgence; to answer with my own hand all I receive, is physically impossible, even though I gave up all other occupation : those correspondents, therefore, who have not received answers, must kindly attribute the seeming neglect to its true cause.
In conclusion, I beg again to offer my best thanks both to contributors and subscribers, more especially to those who have laboured so successfully in advocating the cause, promoting the sale, and augmenting the utility, and consequent popularity of the 'Zoologist.'
9, Devonshire Street, Bishopsgate,
December, 1846.
