VALE. 



This is our last gasp. Life is sweet ; earth is beautiful, and we 

 wish to live — but the dream must fade. We had hoped to survive the 

 chrysalis state of our existence and to emerge ere long a bright and 

 beautiful butterfly, but insufficiency of food whilea helpless latva has so 

 dwarfed us that our embryo wings will never be unfolded to the light 

 of day. Fair in life, we shall be loved in death, and friends will 

 weep over our shrivelled remains — but our epitaph must be written. 

 Shakespeare says : 



" An honest tale speeds best, being briefly told." 



So we will endeavor to tell our story in a few words, make our best 

 bow and retire. 



It has been thought best to discontinue Field and Forest, for 

 the present at least — not through lack of contributions or material; 

 not for want of friends or friendly encouragement, but from insufficient 

 support through a period of general financial depression. We have 

 used our utmost endeavors to make the journal a su cess: Its matter 

 "has been mainly original, from contributors of recognized scientific 

 .standing; printed upon fine book paper from clear type, its appear- 

 has been as attractive as the printer's ait could make it; and though 

 it has attained a measure of success that has been flattering to us, its 

 expense has almost doubled its income, the deficiency having been 

 met by draughts on the editor's private purse. While understood to 

 be the organ of the Potomac-side Naturalists' Club, the association 

 has not contributed a dollar towards its support beyond the subscrip- 

 tions of a few of its members individually. We clcse the journal with 

 the last issue of the third volume, regretfully, for the many kind let- 

 ters and offers of renewals or doubled subscriptions from friends, 

 convince us that the journal has been appreciated, and, that there 

 might be a place for it in the future did we feel able to continue its 

 special support for a year or two longer. 



To its many contributors — whose names appear upon its pages — 

 we make our best acknowledgments, and to those friends wbo have 

 personally interested themselves in its behalf, among whom may be 

 mentioned Profs. Chickering, Glover, and Seaman, Dr. Vasey, and 

 Mr. L. F. Ward, we feel most grateful, and only regret that our 

 united effort has not been crowned with more complete success. 



In conclusion the editor begs to say that his only aim has been to 

 make Field and Forest self supporting, and that he has given his 

 own time — and would have continued to give it — both as editor and 

 publisher, purely as a labor of love, expecting no reward futher than 

 the pleasure of doing something in the interest of American Science. 



Subscribers in arrears will confer a favor by promptly settlino 

 their indebtedness, that our burden— already heavy — may not be made 

 the more so by the neglect of, to them, a trifle matter. Please remit 

 at once. 



