The YOtfHG HATtfBAUST: 



A Monthly Magazine of Natural History. 



Part 61 m JANUARY, 1885. Vol. 6. 



SEASONABLE QUESTIONS. 



WE wish our readers once more the compliments of the season. May 

 the coming year be the most successful of their lives, both entomo- 

 logically and otherwise. May the dark cloud of depression, now grievously 

 affecting the nation, speedily pass away, and the sun of prosperity return 

 with the sun of summer. Some may think that these pages are not the 

 place for a wish for a revival of business prosperity, but while a large num- 

 ber of naturalists may be more or less independent of trade fluctuations, there 

 are, perhaps, a larger number who depend upon their work, or their success 

 in business for their daily bread. When things are moving smoothly along, 

 and each day brings what is required for the needs of the day, they can, with 

 their minds at ease, give their leisure to their favourite pursuits. When a 

 man is out of work and sees his little savings rapidly diminishing, or when a 

 tradesman sees his stock lie untouched upon his shelves, and payments loom- 

 ing in the near future he does not see his way to meet, he cannot possibly 

 give his mind to natural history with that zest and relish he would otherwise 

 do. In all earnestness then we wish our readers success in the coming year, 

 in all ways in which they desire it. 



In commencing our sixth volume, we have a right to congratulate our- 

 ourselves that we have achieved that success which our continued existence 

 shows. During the five years that have elapsed since our first number saw 

 the light, there has not been much new or startling in the entomological 

 world. A few new species have been added to our fauna. A few life his- 

 tories have been worked out. The discoveries in the northern islands have 

 given us new food for thought, especially on the question of variation ; while 

 they have enriched our cabinets with interesting specimens. Death has 

 taken away some well known names from our muster roll. Others have 

 stepped from the ranks and now occupy leading places. But time passes on, 

 insects emerge, lay their eggs and die, larvse feed up and go through their 



