240 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST, 



menced, it will alternate monthly with the supplement on " Spiders," or if the 

 anticipated increase in circulation will warrant it, both may appear together. 



In the Magazine itself, the contents will be of the usual kind. Mr. 

 Walker's long promised paper on " Wings," will appear early in the year. 

 It will be illustrated by drawings from nature by the author, engraved by 

 himself. Mr. Gregson, freed from the care of his collection, has in- 

 timated that he will not part with his knowledge of insects along with his 

 cabinet, and hopes, nothwithstanding his failing eye-sight, to render consider- 

 able aid during the progress of the next volume. A paper from his pen 

 on Leilephila galii> in opposition to the " blown-over " theory, will appear 

 in January. Mr. Tutt has kindly promised to assist me in endeavouring to 

 interest collectors in the study of the smaller species, and will contribute a 

 few practical hints on the subject from time to time. He proposes to com- 

 mence with the Plumes, a small group, readily mastered. An interesting 

 paper on the classification of Coleoptera, by Mr. Sharp, of Liverpool, read 

 at a recent meeting of the Lancashire and Cheshire Entomological Society, 

 will shortly appear ; and Mr. Lewcock, with the assistance of several leading 

 coleopterists, will contribute a series of papers on the work done in this order 

 during recent years, with particulars of discoveries of new species, and the 

 occurrence of varieties. Mr. Soutter has promised articles on " The Honey- 

 suckle," "The Wall-flower," and "The Ragweed." Those who remem- 

 ber his botanical papers in the early volumes will welcome this announce- 

 ment. 



In one department only, do I find difficulty in obtaining satisfactory help 

 from my friends. Short notes of observations, captures, insects reared, &c, 

 are especially welcome, and space will always be found for these. Letters fre- 

 quently reach me asking why I do not give more of these items. Yet those 

 who complain, rarely if ever contribute such notes. The idea undoubtedly 

 is that the items my friends could send me are not worth publication. Will 

 they allow me to be the judge on that subject ? 



One word more with respect to the " get-up" of the Magazine. Some 

 small alterations will be made in the arrangement of the pages that will im- 

 prove its appearance. The monthly heading will be discontinued; and 

 articles will not be divided except when very lengthy, but the portion printed 

 in one part will be continued in the next without a break. The dark blue of 

 the cover will be changed for the colour formerly used, which will show the 

 printing more clearly. All these changes will, I trust, be deemed improve- 

 ments, and with the interesting papers announced I hope the readers of the 

 " Young Naturalist " will consider the next volume the best of the series. 



