of short original articles of general interest, from students of every branch of Natural History. Microscopy, &c. We shall be glad to receive brief notes of original observations on arty subject suitable for our pages, and shill be grateful for judicious hints and suggestions.
At preset, whenever a good paper is read before one of our local societies its usefulness is too often limited to the members of that society, and generally to that part of them who chance to hear it read. By printing such papers, or abstracts of them, in this magazine, their usefulness will be widely extended, and all the Societies may benefit by them; while to the younger members, and the less informed generally, they may prove of incalculable advantage by aiding then in studies already entered upon, or pointing out suitable ones to engage in.
We should like our readers to bear in wind that this magazine is not intended to supersede or in any way to interfere with the publication of Transactions by individual societies. We shall on the contrary aid in making them known.
Occasionally reviews of new scientific books will occupy part of our space, and we hope to have it in our power to aid such of our Societies as recognise local antiquities and archæology as part of their work.
The publication of a diary of coming meetings and excursions ought to prove most useful, and if members generally will send their names as subscribers for the magazine they will justify their Societies in ceasing to issue their monthly programmes, the cost and postage of which at present forms a considerable item in the sum of incidental expenditure; especially in the larger Societies.
If this magazine is to boa permanent publication we must secure a good circulation. We therefore ask the cordial co-operation of our subscribers by assisting us among their friends. In helping us they will he helping themselves. If every reader of this first number who approves of our labours and object will be good enough to obtain for us at least another subscriber he will materially aid us in our endeavours, and increase our power of making the magazine a useful medium for intercourse between naturalists of all classes in the Midland Counties,
Meteorology.—In future numbers it will be our aim to present as complete a record as possible of, at all events, the Temperature and Rainfall in the Midland Counties. All observers who can aid in this matter are requested to communicate with Mr. W. J. Harrison. Town Museum. Leicester, who will forward forms on which to record observations.
