x PREFACE. 
revulsion of opinion as complete as that in the famous 
case of the fox and the grapes. 
One more word of egotism and the editor may 
make his bow. The single claim which he has 
advanced to any qualification for treating upon this 
subject rests upon his connection with the new 
edition of Neighbour’s ‘“Apiary;” but as it was 
concluded to make no pointed mention of his name 
in that work, it seems only due to his present 
readers to notify that, besides entirely recasting that 
volume, he compiled and wrote the greater portion 
of its new matter, or about one-third of the total 
contents as they stand. The frequent and favour- 
able allusion to Messrs. Neighbour in the present 
work will, it is hoped, without giving it even the 
suspicion of being issued in the trade interest of 
their firm, yet show clearly that there is no un- 
friendly rivalry between the two publications, but 
that both editor and publishers desire to reciprocate 
to the full the kindly services which they have 
themselves received, 
A. W. 
TwIckENHAM, June, 1880. 
