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PREFACE TO VOL. XIII. 



At the conclusion of Vol. XIII., we have again to tender our hearty 

 thanks to our subscribers and contributors. The current volume is, 

 we believe, more bulky than any of its predecessors, and the contents 

 possibly more varied. 



The feature of this volume has been undoubtedly the series of 

 " Century " articles that were printed in the first two numbers, and 

 which gave a general review of the progress made in various branches 

 of entomological science during the century just past. These articles, 

 written by the first specialists in their respective branches of study, 

 have attracted considerable attention both at home and abroad, and were 

 undoubtedly much appreciated by entomological students as careful 

 surveys of confessedly Avide and difficult subjects. 



We are greatly indebted to Mr. Burr, Mr. J. A. Clark, Mr. J. 

 Edwards and the Hon. N. C. Rothschild for help in the publication of 

 the plates that have been given with the various numbers. Mr. J. A. 

 Clark's plate, illustrating " Peronea crhtana and its aberrations," will 

 be absolutely indispensable to all future workers at this species. 



The help of the assistant-editors is here gratefully acknowledged. 

 The section devoted to Coleoptera under Professor Beare and Mr. 

 Donisthorpe shows a considerable increase, and that of Orthoptera, 

 although not showing so many contributors as may be desired, is 

 steadily maintained by Mr. Burr. The share taken by Dr. Chapman 

 and Mr. Prout in the successful management of the magazine is too 

 well known to need comment. 



To Mr. G. B. Routledge and Mr. Burr we have again to off^^ 

 best thanks for the preparation of the "Special Index." J<- ' 

 of the greatest satisfaction to know that our insi^^ 

 estimable value of such an Index has resulted '■ 

 of most of our current entomological literature. 



We propose making no serious change in ti 

 conduct of the magazine for the forthcoming year. .jjeci- 



ally ask for short notes, relating to observations on th o of insects 



in confinement or in the field ; details of insects as u.nnnated beings 

 are, pei-haps, of all forms of entomological study, most interesting, 

 most desirable, and yet most difficult to obtain. All short field notes 

 are also gratefully received, as they often have a strong bearing on the 

 peculiarities of distribution, and are of the greatest value in compiling 

 a standard work, in which accurate detail is everything. 



To each and everyone who has in any way helped to make the 

 olume a success we tender our heartiest thanks. 



