TO SUBSCRIBERS. 



The publication of the Index to Vol. Ill of Papilio affords me the 

 opportunity to say a few words which have some interest to myself, 

 and I trust will not be wholly devoid of it to those engaged in the study 

 of our Lepidoptera. A little over three^ years ago, with the founda- 

 tion of the New York Entomological Club, was issued the first number 

 of this journal. As is usual in such cases, the most intense enthusiasm 

 was for a time exhibited by its promoters, but after a little while this 

 excitement cooled, and to me, as secretary of the club, gradually fell 

 the whole labor of editorship. Added to this, the work of reading 

 proof, going about fifty blocks four or five times per month to the 

 printer's, folding and mailing the num.bers and attending to the very 

 heavy correspondence, was left wholly in my hands, and this, too, with 

 the claims of a most exacting profession constantly before me. I was 

 compelled, as is already known, to relinquish the duties thus forced 

 upon me, and I did so with a pecuniary loss upon the three volumes 

 to myself personally of over $200. I do not make this statement in 

 any begging spirit, but had every Lepidopterist in this country given 

 his support to the journal this loss would not have accrued. It is not 

 too late, however, to atone for the somewhat unfair neglect with which 

 Papilio seems to me to have been received by some entomologists, 

 as a number of copies of the first three volumes are still on hand, and 

 will be supplied, post free, for $5.00 the set, or quantities at even a 

 lower rate. The first volume may be had, complete, for $1.50, in- 

 cluding its colored plate. Orders for the same may be sent to my 

 address: 185 East 116 Street, New York. I deeply regret the long 

 delay which has occurred in the printing of the present index, but it 

 has been perfectly unavoidable. Hv. Edwards. 



June 10, 1884. 





