Bulletin of the United States Geological and Geographical Survey of the Territories

PREFATORY NOTE.

U. S. GEOLOGICAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL

SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES,

Washington, September 20, 1880.

Bulletin No. 4, series of 1879-'80, issued September 30, 1880, completes Volume V; and with this number are issued index, title-page, table of contents, and list of illustrations for the whole volume. The separately published numbers should be preserved for binding, as there is no issue of the Bulletins in bound volumes from this office, and as back numbers cannot always be supplied to complete deficient files.

In concluding the fifth volume of Bulletins, a word regarding the origin and progress of this publication will not be out of place. The issue began in 1874, when it was found desirable to establish more ready means of communication with the public and with scientific bodies than the regular Reports of the Survey afforded; the design being to publish, without the delay incident to the appearance of more elaborate and extended articles, such new or specially interesting matter as should be contributed to the general results of the Explorations under my charge by the members or the collaborators of the Survey. The practical importance of prompt measures in such cases is well recognized, and suffi. ciently attested by the success which the Bulletins have achieved.

The First and Second Bulletins, which appeared in 1874, are separately paged pamphlets, without ostensible connection with each other or with subsequent ones, but together constituting a "First Series" of the publication. Bulletins which appeared in 1875, being those of a "Second Series" and six in number, are continuously paged. With No. 6 were issued title, contents, index, &c., for all the numbers of both "series" which had then appeared; the design being that these should together constitute a Volume I, in order that the inconvenient distinction of "series" might be dropped.

With Bulletin No. 1 of 1876 the publication was established as an annual serial; the four consecutively paged numbers of that year constituting Volume II.

The four Bulletins of 1877 constituted Volume III, which compared favorably with its predecessors in the extent, variety, and importance of its contents, and was greatly improved in typography and general appearance.

The four Bulletins of 1878 formed Volume IV, which maintained the same high standard of excellence.

Bulletins Nos. 1, 2, 3 of 1879 and No. 4 of 1880 complete Volume V, which is herewith offered to the public.

The sixth volume having been ordered by the Department, the Bulletins will continue to be issued at convenient irregular intervals, as material may come to hand; the strictly serial character of the publication being maintained. The actual date of issue is given on the temporary cover of each, as it is important to fix with precision the appearance of the successive numbers of a periodical in which new genera and species are described.

This publication, answering fully the special purpose for which it was established, is regarded as one of the most important means to the main ends which the Survey has had in view. It has acquired a character and standing which render it favorably comparable to the regular "Proceedings" or other similar publications of learned bodies of this country or Europe. Its scope includes the whole range of the subjects for the investigation of which the Survey was conducted, and the appearance of which in this connection has in no way interfered with the formal Reports of the Survey. The volumes already issued have contained articles upon Archæology, Ethnography, Linguistics, Geology, Topography, Geography, Palæontology, and Natural History in general, suitably illustrated with plates, cuts, and maps; and no effort has been spared to maintain a high standard of excellence.

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