1923- Carpenter. — To Readers of The '-' Irish Natityalist.'" 3 



TO READERS OE THE IRISH NATURALIST, 



Having served as one of the Editors of this Magazine 

 since its foundation in 1892, I desire on my withdrawal 

 (due to retirement from the Royal College of Science for 

 Ireland at the end of the year 1922) to bid farewell 

 to the contributors and readers whose support and co- 

 operation has made the work a privilege and a pleasure. 

 The Irish Naturalist has provided a bond of union between 

 students of nature and societies of nature-lovers in all 

 parts of the country, and its thirty-one completed volumes 

 contain many papers of permanent value to biological 

 and geological science. To have been granted participation 

 in such work is truly cause for thankfulness. 



During the past few years,- the Magazine has passed 

 through troublous times, but the testimony to its value 

 shown by the friendly and ungrudging help of its supporters 

 has been an added encouragement to those responsible 

 for its management. Personally I wish to thank most 

 heartily the friends who have faithfully stood by the Irish 

 Naturalist through the recent period of danger and trial. 

 We may hope tha.t the worst of the difficulties are now 

 over, and that the Magazine may serve as an enlightening 

 and unifying influence in the new conditions on which 

 Ireland is entering. 



Supporters of the Magazine will notice with hearty 

 satisfaction that the vacancy on the editorial staff is filled 

 by that talented and ardent naturalist, C. B. Moffat, whose 

 articles on varied aspects of science have been among 

 the most valuable and attractive contributions made to 

 our pages. 



The editorship in which I have for so long been permitted 

 to continue has afforded opportunity for welcome friend- 

 ship as well as for scientific effort. To colleagues and 

 helpers I would offer assurance of grateful remembrance 

 and heartfelt wishes for continued and increasing success. 



Geo. H. Carpenter. 



Dublin, December, 1922. 



