AVANT-PROPOS. 



TIRING tlie " eventful year " just drawing to 

 a elose^ we have studiously avoided thrust- 

 ing ourselves and our " hobby ^^ before our 

 subscribers. Twelve montldy numbers of 

 (JossiP have regularly made their appearance^ and 

 now we think the time and opportunity has arrived 

 to congratulate ourselves upon the success which we 

 have achieved. That we do congratulate ourselves 

 there is not the slightest doubt^ and we congratulate 

 our subscribers also. The cause for congratulation 

 in the latter case^ as well as in the former, lies in 

 the fact that Hardwickb^s Science Gossip has proved a decided success_, 

 even beyond our most sanguine hopeSj when we first planned its 

 constitution. We have no doubt that our readers rejoice with us in 

 this consummation, since our success proves that v/e have produced just 

 that sort of companion which they desired. Whilst, however, we shake 

 hands with ourselves, and feel good-humoured towards everybody, 

 as all successful people do, vfe by no means wish to flatter ourselves 

 into the belief that our work has been perfect. Any one desirous of 

 being critical, may tui-n over these pages and point out defects which 

 might have been remedied, or omissions which might have been 

 avoided. Good-natured friends will make allowances for a feAV failures 

 in execution, vdicre the general intention has been in the right 

 direction. We have had much to learn, and we hope that, from our 

 experience of the past, we have profited for the future. It has been 

 our good fortune to secure the kind offices of many scientific friends, 

 without whose valuable aid we could not have hoped to have rendered 



