VALEDICTORY ADDRESS. 



The Entomological Magazine is ended. — In offering to 

 the public the Fifth and last Volume, and at the same time 

 bidding my readers farewell for ever, I have thought it desir- 

 able to relinquish the editorial plural, and address my brother 

 entomologists in the more egotistical but less diisummg singular. 

 Vv'hether this work has or has not accomplished its proposed 

 oljject, — the advancement of entomology, — whether it has been 

 conducted well or ill, is for my readers to determine. Of its 

 merits or demerits its avowed Editor cannot speak. 



In the pages of the volumes before me many papers occur 

 which seem to require a few comments. I will make these 

 comments as concise as possible. I am well aware how irk- 

 some is the reading of Prefaces, and that the only merit they 

 can by chance possess is brevity. 



The Colloquia Enfomologica. — However censurable many 

 passages in these Colloquies may be, (and I have nothing to 

 say in extenuation or palliation,) it is but just that he who de- 

 serves should alone bear the obloquy. With one exception-'' 

 they are written exclusively by myself. I need scarcely add 

 that the conversations are purely imaginary, and that the 

 supposed interlocutors never avowed the sentiments they 

 found ascribed to them. It is no pleasant task to volunteer 

 this confession ; but the duty is imperative. I cannot allow 



» See Vol. I. p. 492. This acknowledgment appears to contradict a state- 

 ment made in Vol. II. p. 476. In explanation it is only needful to say, that a 

 kind friend undertook the editorship of that volume, and consequently the Col- 

 loquia were not then " either really or avowedly editorial." 

 NO. V. VOL. V. b 



