Northern Mole Vole (Ellobius talpinus). In this issue, Dymskaya et al. investigate sonic and ultrasonic call variation in this subterranean rodent in their native habitat in Russia. Photo by Ilya Volodin.

Much of what is known about many species of marine mammals comes from study of specimens that stranded on beaches. One of the early leaders in the effort to make consistent use of such specimens was Thomas James (Mac) McIntyre (1940-2024), whose Obituary appears later in this issue. Beginning in 1967, Mac organized groups of people on a moment’s notice when an animal beached, often transporting people and specimens in his personal vehicle. Their efforts to salvage strandings covered much of the east coast of the U.S. Mac is shown here with Charles W. Potter and James G. Mead (from left to right) processing a Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) on the coast of North Carolina in early December 1973 (USNM 484991). Image courtesy of Charles W. Potter.