

PREFACE. 



Another volume has been completed, and "we tender our heartiest 

 thanks to the subscribers, contributors, and everyone who has in any 

 way helped towards the continued success of the magazine. An over- 

 flowing supply of most interesting material has always been on hand, 

 and we apologise most heartily to those whose contributions have not yet 

 been published, and hasten to assure them that arrears will be cleared 

 oft' as quickly as possible. We were afraid at one time that the arid 

 theme of synonymy and usage of names were about to overwhelm us, 

 and, whilst not wishing to stifle such discussion altogether, on 

 particular and essential difficult points and facts, we object to occupy- 

 ing valuable space with opinions, criticisms, and unimportant details, 

 and prefer greatly to publish notes about the insects themselves, rather 

 than about the names they do, or ought to, bear. 



We have been again particularly indebted to Professor Beare and 

 Mr. Donisthorpe for their share of the work in providing and editing 

 a continuous supply of notes on the Coleoptera, and also to Mr. 

 Burr, who has kept alive the interest in the Orthoptera. Few of our 

 recruits appear to take up the less worked orders, Lepidoptera 

 and Coleoptera, absorbing most of the work done. 



For the General Index this year we have to thank our friend, the 

 Rev. C. R. N. Burrows; and for the Special Index, Professor Beare, 

 Mr. Burr, Mr. Eoutledge, and Mr. Turner. These gentleman, by 

 sharing the work, have already completed the index. The idea was to 

 publish it with this number, but it appears that this can scarcely be 

 done without delaying publication for a few days, which is hardly 

 desirable. It will be sent out if possible with the January number, so 

 as to lessen as much as possible the delay in binding. 



Our supply of plates this year has exceeded that of any previous 

 volume. For help in producing these we are greatly indebted to Dr. 

 T. A. Chapman, Mr. J. A. Clark, and Mr. J. C. Dollman. The three- 

 colour photograph that was to have been published with no. 12 of the 

 last volume, to illustrate Dr. Chapman's new Psychid, could not be 

 completed until the publication of no. 8 of the current volume, with 

 which it was published. 



We propose to make no marked alteration in our conduct of the 

 magazine during the coming year. We shall be glad to receive, at anj- 

 time, from contributors, blocks to illustrate insects described, or 

 localities worked. Our series of " Practical Hints " will be continued 

 during the spring and summer months. 



We particularly thank our subscribers for their kind response to 

 our appeal as to the payment of subscriptions last year. Never before 

 have the subscriptions been paid so promptly and with so little waste of 

 effort. We trust that this satisfactory c(mdition of aft'airs will be 

 maintained with the coming volume. 



