TO THE EEADEE. 



In this year of Jubilees I have no small satisfaction in 

 calling attention to the fact that the present Number 

 closes the hundredth volume and the fiftieth year of the 

 existence of the ' Annals and Magazine of Natural History.' 

 Fifty years ago, fresh from the teachings of Ehrenberg 

 and profoundly influenced by the spirit of scientific research 

 which then, as now, prevailed in Germany, I suggested to 

 Mr. Richard Taylor the establishment of a journal in which, 

 while its pages were freely open to the original contributions 

 of English naturalists, special attention should be paid to the 

 researches of continental observers ; and the result was the 

 starting of the ' Annals of Natural History,' with which, 

 subsequently, the well-known ' Magazine of Natural History ' 

 of Loudon and Charlesworth was amalgamated. The hope 

 that such an undertaking, venturesome as it appeared, might 

 prove a success was not disappointed — the ' Annals ' immedi- 

 ately met with cordial support on the part of the most zealous 

 students of nature in this country, and from its very commence- 

 ment to the present day its pages have been enriched by 

 valuable contributions from our most eminent naturalists. 

 Consequently we can now look back upon a series of important 

 original papers on various branches of Natural History which 

 have made their appearance in the ' Annals,' while at the 

 same time the communication of the results of the researches 

 of continental naturalists has never been lost sight of; and 

 the Editors feel that they have done good service in bringing 

 under the notice of their fellow-workers in this country many 



