C^e Canadian fctomobgist, 



VOL. XIX. LONDON, JANUARY, 1887. No. i 



AN EXPLANATION. 



BY WM. SAUNDERS, LONDON, ONT. 



A protracted absence from home has prevented me from offering 

 earher to the readers of The Canadian Entomologist an explanation 

 of the circumstances which have led to my resignation of the post I have 

 held so long as Editor of this journal. For thirteen years it has been 

 my pleasure and privilege to be thus brought in contact with most of the 

 active workers in the Entomological field, with many of whom I have 

 held pleasant intercourse both by correspondence and in person, and it 

 occasioned me much regret when I found it necessary to sever my con- 

 nection with those editorial duties which had hitherto given me so much 

 pleasure. Shortly after the proposal was made that the Government should 

 establish a number of experimental farms in Canada, I was employed to 

 collect such information as might aid in determining the best course to 

 pursue. This enquiry resulted in my becoming greatly interested in the 

 work, and subsequently in my accepting the position of Director of the 

 same. The duties of this office are so weighty and constant as to make 

 it necessary for me to give up all other engagements and devote to it my 

 entire time and thought. Since Economic Entomology is one of the 

 subjects which will claim attention at the principal or central farm, I hope 

 still to be able, if not directly, at least indirectly, to aid in advancing this 

 important branch of Entomological study. I desire to tender my sincere 

 thanks to the many kind friends who have aided me in the past by sup- 

 plying useful matter for the journal, and would bespeak for my esteemed 

 and able successor a continuance of that confidence and support. Our 

 readers may rest assured that my withdrawal from the editorial chair will 

 not in any way lessen the value and usefulness of The Canadian Ento- 

 mologist ; indeed, I have reason to beHeve that, under the skilful man- 

 agement of the newly appointed Editor, the Rev. C. J. S. Bethune, the 

 future of our valued monthly will in many respects be an improvement 

 on the past. 



