PREFACE. 
AX the condusion oithejtfih volume, we beg to express our thanks 
toour8upporterB,to whom is due the steadily increasiug useful- 
neas of the Magazine ; hoping also that the termination of a second 
W„» will fiudusenjoyingtheu,asnow,thesameamicahlerelat,ons 
with them, and the same unity of purpose amongst ourselves ; w.th 
the satisfaction of knowing that, in having constantly held m v.ew 
the advancement of Entomology, we have maintainedan independence 
of party feeling, the entertainment of which, even in the sl.ghtest 
aegree, is fatal to scientiic progress, and a thing to he eaehewed by 
all true naturalists. 
We regret exceedingly that for many numbers of this volume we 
were unable, through extreme pressure, to give prompt attenfon to 
many important communications, and this notwithstanding the issue 
ofseveral enlarged numbers: our correspondents will please bear ,n 
„,ind that our constant aim is to clear oif accumulations of materials 
as soon as possible. 
In answer to enquiries as to the financial condition of the under- 
taking, we simply say that experience seems to prove that each 
volume recoups its expenses (and nearly exhausts our present hm.ted 
impression) in about four years, a result we had scarcely hoped for 
at our commencement, and which gives an additional guarantee for 
a long existence. 
We have felt, with our supporters, seme slight inconven.ence 
from the fact of our year commencing in June instead of Jan.u.ry, 
and would gladly obviate this, but the large number of subscribers 
in advance renders it now almost impossible to make a new arrange- 
ment, and we must therefore ask our friends to bear with us m .h,s 
respect. 
1, Paternoster Row : 30t7t Ajpril, 1869. 
c. 
