298 
TIIE WEEKLY ENTOMOLOGIST. 
only, while another class saw before 
it a very long period of success. 
With all due respect we have now 
to inform both that they were mis- 
taken. The two volumes and a half 
which have appeared falsify the pro- 
phecies of evil, and the fact that this 
article announces, those of unexcep- 
tional good. 
. Still, we look not so much for 
evidence of success in the length of 
the paper’s existence as in the matter 
which it has contained. We hope 
that it has not failed to do good by 
promoting the interests of science 
and encouraging its youthful vo- 
taries in their work. But, valuable as 
many of the papers have been that 
have appeared in its pages, and 
devoted as many of the most scien- 
tific entomologists have been to its 
interests, we cannot shut our eyes 
to the fact that a large number have 
kept aloof and refused to join in the 
work. The increase of this class, 
and the consequent increasingly 
responsibility resting on the Editors, 
were the first symptoms of decay. 
In the interests of any future attempts 
which may be made in the same 
direction, we feel bound not to retire 
from our post without a protest. 
Entomologists have not joined us 
as they might. Many a one had 
knowledge, and skill, and time suf- 
ficient to lend a helping hand who 
yet held back. Why has this been ? 
Is it from an unwillingness to lend 
one’s name to what some alfect to 
despise, even though no unwilling- 
ness exists to see the paper pros- 
pering ? or from a selfish exclusive- 
ness ? or from a laziness that could 
witness the most unwearied exertions 
on the part of others and never be 
infected with energy? Surely it 
must be from one of these causes, 
and its results are fatal. The editors 
cannot write the whole paper, or if 
they can, and do, the public cannot 
read it without a yawn. To make 
a weekly entomological newspaper 
a success all must work together. 
We sincerely hope that if any one 
offers them another chance all its 
readers will remember these remarks 
and put them into practice. 
In this number we insert as many 
as possible of the communications 
for publication that have been re- 
cently received. Some we have 
been compelled to abridge; and as 
this is the last number which will 
be devoted to records of captures, 
we are confident that the authors of 
the various notices will excuse our 
inserting the most interesting por- 
tions only of their letters. Next 
week the Index will appear. 
And now we trust that all our 
readers will see the wisdom of our 
discontinuing the “ Entomologist” 
at the present moment. We hope 
that some will regret it ; but 
whether that be the case or not, 
we can truly say, looking back on 
the past, that we have done our 
best. 
