PRE WA CEN T@ 7Vi@ie ae ale 
1 ote 
QL cade 
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 
haye been a matter for congratulation to all our subscribers, as it was 
to ourselves, that Professor T. Hudson Beare was able to jom 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. 
Rothschild, whilst Mr. G. B. Routledge has again prepared the ‘‘ Special 
Index.” Our thanks, however, are tendered to all those who haye 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, 7.c., 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. Bloomfieldand F. 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 
asrapid 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 our contributors to supply. 
