AVANT-PROPOS. 



our " Notes and Queries '^ and " Answers to Correspondents " so 

 complete. Altliougli we have no permission to quote the names 

 of those to whom we refer^ and who possess a European reputation 

 in their own special branches of Natural History, we cannot refrain 

 from according to them our thanks. Should there be any of our 

 numerous contributors who feel aggrieved that their communications 

 have not been inserted, or their queries answered, we trust at this 

 genial season, when friendships are cemented, and follies and failings 

 forgotten, that they will extend to us full and free pardon for offences 

 which have been unintentional. So sudden and almost overwhelming 

 did the correspondence speedily become, even before the machinery 

 could be brought into working order, that we are more surprised at 

 not oftener hearing the voice of complaint, than we should have 

 been at a postman^s deluge of angry letters. Let this volume be 

 accepted as an earnest of our anxiety to supply mouth by month a 

 healthy four-penny-worth of " Gossip ; " and with the assurance that 

 it shall be our aim to progress and improve, we cordially wish our 

 friends, contributors, and subscribers, all the world over — 



" A Happy New Yeae ! " 



