PREFACE.
In taking a retrospective glance at the contents of 'The Zoologist' for 1878, it is satisfactory to note that the suggestions made in the Preface to the volume for the preceding year have found favour in the eyes of contributors. Although, as of yore, Ornithology has received a considerable share of attention, other branches of Natural History have not been neglected, and the many interesting observations on Mammals, Fishes and Crustacea which have been recorded during the year 1878 in these pages show how much there was to gather, how much still remains to be gleaned, even in the circumscribed field of British Zoology.
The increased attention paid of late to the Natural History of Ireland has resulted in the discovery there, during the past summer, of two species, the Tree Pipit (p. 348) and the Red- backed Shrike (p. 437), which were not previously known to visit the Sister Isle ; while a third species, the Wood Wren (p. 348) has been found to be of more frequent occurrence there as a local summer visitant than has hitherto been shown to be the case.
The exceptional appearance of the American Snow Goose, Anser albatus, for at least the second time, in Ireland (p. 419), is a circumstance of no little interest to ornithologists. Nor should Dr. Bureau's valuable paper on the seasonal change which takes place in the bill of the Common Puffin (p. 233) be passed over in silence. The careful observations made by him on this subject have resulted in the elucidation of a very singular meta- morphosis, which, if not unsuspected,* has at all events only now, through his instrumentality, been fully realized and understood.
In Bingley's 'North Wales ; including its Scenery, Antiquities and Customs
and some Sketches of its Natural History,' published in 1804, an interesting account
is given (vol.i., pp. 348—354) of the habits of the Puffin as observed in the island of
Priestholme, off the coast of Anglesea, where the author saw "upwards of fifty acres
of land literally covered with these birds." After describing both old and young, be
remarks (p 354) that "Puffins do not breed till they are three years old, and they are said to change their bills annually" This statement occurs in nearly the same
words in 'A Tour round North Wales,' during the summer of 1798, by the same
author vol. i., p. 309 (1800), where a much briefer account of the Puffin is given,
admittedly borrowed from Pennant, who in turn derived his information from the
Rev. Mr. Davies, of Aber, sometime resident at Beaumaris.
