PREFACE TO VOL. III. 



The utility of a Journal of Natural History in Calcutta, 

 can hardly be considered any longer a doubtful question, 

 since we find at the end of the third year of the experiment, 

 sufficient encouragement on the part of the public for its 

 continuance, without any effort to enlist new supporters, 

 further than the regular appearance of each number as it 

 becomes due. 



The events, political and mercantile of the past year, have 

 been, it is true, calculated to divert attention from scientific 

 enquiry, and we believe our Journal is the only one of its 

 kind in India, depending on the voluntary labours of corres- 

 pondents, that has not suffered from the circumstances ad- 

 verted to. Retirements from India, and other changes in 

 Society, have deprived us of the support of above forty of 

 the original subscribers, yet an almost equal number of 

 new subscribers enable us to continue the work, under the 

 advantage not only of increased experience, but also, we 

 trust, of increased editorial strength. 



From this period, we may hope to be assisted in the 

 Editorship of the Journal by Mr. Griffith. 



It is hoped, that the increased interest which this arrange- 

 ment will secure to the work, may also be attended with a 

 proportionate increase to the number of subscribers, which 

 would enable the Editors either to reduce the expense of the 

 work, or to enlarge it materially. It is needless for the 

 Editor to say, that it never was intended that any profit 

 should accrue to himself as remuneration for his trouble. 



It is not intended to introduce any change in the form 

 of the Journal; but its pages, we trust, will gradually be 

 made to embrace a wider range of subjects than heretofore. 



