PREFACE TO VOL. XII. 



The great help that has been given to us during the progress of 

 this volume makes it more than usually difficult to express our thanks 

 in anything like adequate form to all those who have in various ways 

 aided us, but it cannot be gainsaid that their kind co-operation has resulted 

 in achieving a greater success in this than any previous volume. The 

 work thrown upon the assistant-editors has been perhaps rather more 

 onerous than usual and our first thanks are due to them. It must 

 have been a matter for congratulation to all our subscribers, as it was 

 to ourselves, that Professor T. Hudson Beare was able to join Mr. 

 Donisthorpe in conducting that section of the Magazine devoted to 

 Coleoptera. We have also to specially remember those gentlemen who 

 have helped with the illustrations — Messrs. Burr, Burrows, Capper, 

 F. N. Clark, Donisthorpe, Morley, Dr. T. A. Chapman and the Hon. N. C. 

 Eothschild, whilst Mr. G. B. Boutledge has again prepared the " Special 

 Index." Our thanks, however, are tendered to all those who have in 

 any way helped us either by sending communications for publication 

 or by introducing the Magazine to the notice of other entomologists. 



We do not propose to make any change in the character of our 

 Magazine during the forthcoming year. In this respect, if copying us 

 is the sincerest form of flattery, we have much for which to be thankful. 

 As, however, this is probably the last number of any British entomo- 

 logical periodical that will be published during this century, we take 

 the opportunity to urge our younger enthusiasts to strive to make their 

 work of the highest possible scientific value, and to increase the 

 reputation of British entomologists both at home and abroad. In 

 order to give British entomologists a brief summary of what has 

 already been achieved, our next number, i.e., the first of Vol. XIII. , 

 that which will usher in the new century, will be called the " century " 

 number, and will contain a series of first class critical reviews by our 

 leading specialists in the various orders — Professors Beare, Fernald, 

 and Poulton, Drs. Chapman and Dyar, the Revs. E. N. BloomfieldandF. D. 

 Morice, Messrs. Burr, Donisthorpe, Kaye, W. F. Kirby, Kirkaldy, Morley, 

 Newstead, Prout, Verrall, &c. That such a number will be keenly 

 appreciated by our readers we have no doubt, and we trust that they 

 will make the number as widely known as possible to their entomo- 

 logical friends. 



At the close of the century then we appeal to our contributors to 

 make our Magazine as scientifically useful as possible, remembering 

 that, just as we are to-day using for our generalisations the facts stored 

 by our predecessors of a century ago, so we may reasonably feel assured 

 that our successors will utilise our work, and that many of the 

 incidental facts and observations reported by us will be collected and 

 used in formulating generalisations on entomological problems of which 

 we cannot possibly at the present time even guess, and if progress be 

 as rapid throughout the approaching century as it has been during the last 

 quarter of the yet present one, there can be no doubt that, whilst utilising 

 our facts, they will consider our present biological views and our scientific 

 methods of expression as antiquated as our leaders of to-day consider 

 those of the entomologists of a century ago. Facts, however, cannot 

 alter ; it is these we now particularly ask oar contributors to supply. 



