282 



THE YOUNG 



NATURALIST. 



have fallen short of our own ideal at 

 times, and how rarely we have ever 

 approached it. But with all this 

 humility we do not think that our 

 magazine has altogether failed in its 

 object, or that it has not been useful 

 in the manner intended, to many of 

 our readers. Nevertheless, we do not 

 profess to be able to create a taste for 

 natural history pursuits in the minds 

 of those who have naturally no incli- 

 nation in that direction. Still more 

 is it impossible for us to assist those 

 who have such a taste if we cannot 

 reach them. The idea that prevailed 

 with us in commencing the Young 

 Naturalist was that the existing maga- 

 zines were rather too advanced for 

 beginners, and we have tried from 

 time to time to write or print such 

 papers as might assist these in their 

 earlier steps, and lead them on to 

 higher walks. Yet we have been 

 mindful, too, to be as full and as cor- 

 rect as we could, whatever was the 

 subject on which we wrote. Erom 

 time to time criticism has reached us, 

 which we were always glad to see when 

 it was well intended, and which we 

 could alv/ays afford to smile at, if a 

 rejected article or other personal motive 

 prompted it. But as the praise so 

 many of our readers have bestowed 

 upon us has far exceeded the adverse 

 criticism, we have, perhaps, thought 

 too well of our own bantling. But as 



our own opinion is not of so much 

 importance as that of our readers, we 

 will accept the fact we have just named 

 as proof that the Young Naturalist is 

 appreciated by the large majority of 

 its readers, and we will ask them to 

 assist us in increasing its usefulness 

 both to themselves and to others. 

 The more extended the circulation of 

 a paper like this, that depends so 

 largely upon its readers for its matter, 

 the more choice would the editors have 

 for selection if the circle of contributors 

 was enlarged. We have also always 

 been desirous to add a cover to the 

 weekly parts, to which the advertise- 

 ments, exchanges, announcements, and 

 other items of a temporary nature could 

 be transferred, by which we would have 

 additional space for matter of more 

 importance. Both these can be done if 

 our circulation can be increased, and we 

 propose to send occasionally to our sub- 

 scribers a few extra or back numbers with 

 their weekly or monthly parts. These 

 we will be glad if they will distribute 

 among their friends and acquaintances, 

 "if they will give them to any one likely 

 to care about the subject, — enclose 

 them in their entomological corres- 

 pondence, or in any other way circulate 

 them where they are likely to be appre- 

 ciated. By doing this they will render 

 us the greatest possible service, and 

 help us to improve the Young Natu- 

 ralist in more ways than one. 



