The first taste of mankind is for fables ; the last, for matters of fact.

As the spread of a taste for natural history all over the world interferes with no political or religious interest, it is already making rapid strides towards that desirable period, when, in the figurative language of the Bible, the knowledge of the Lord shall cover the earth, as the waters cover the seas.

In thanking our contributors for the continued assistance which they afford us, we have at the same time to apologise for the tardiness with which some of their communications are inserted, and for the abridgment of others.

The truth is, that so abundant is our supply of materials relating to the delightful subjects which our work embraces, that we could, with the greatest facility, as far as matter is concerned, bring out this Magazine twice as often as it now appears.

The Berwickshire Naturalists Club was instituted in Sep- tember, 1831, by some gentlemen who interested themselves in natural history, and were anxious to do their best to aid one another in their pursuits, and to diffuse a taste for them among others.