Newman acted as editor-in-chief until his death in 1876, when he was succeeded, first by James Edmund Harting (1876–1896), and later by William Lucas Distant (1897–1916).

Originating from an enlargement of The Entomologist, The Zoologist described itself as "an illustrated monthly magazine of natural history", but also as a "journal for recording facts & anecdotes relating to quadrupeds, birds, reptiles, fishes, annelides, insects, worms, zoophytes, &c." and it aimed at describing "their habits, food, retreats, occasional appearance, migrations, nests and young.

"[1] It contained long articles, short notes, comments on current events, and book reviews covering the entire Animal Kingdom throughout the world, until The Entomologist was separated again in 1864.

[3] Newman was strongly inspired by the 18th century parson-naturalist Gilbert White, who wrote The Natural History and Antiquities of Selborne, published in 1789, and reprinted hundreds of times since.

[4] Newman can be characterised as a typical representative of the English popular science periodical editor of the nineteenth century.

In 1889, James Edmund Harting, who was then the editor of The Zoologist, wrote an extensive memorial (of nearly twenty-two pages) for Frederick Bond.

Knox, Bodd, Salmon, Frederick Smith, William Thompson, and Yarrell (...)—helped the late Edward Newman to found" The Zoologist.

[11] In 1899 Henry Eliot Howard published his first articles in the magazine, about birds in North Worcestershire and in the North-West of Ireland.

[12][13] In 1900 the naturalist Arthur Henry Patterson published the first part of his study on the birds of Great Yarmouth and surroundings.