A large proportion of the contents of the present Volume has been communicated by individuals of established reputation as Na- turalists, while the entire number of writers amounts to nearly one hundred ; and in no instance whatever has the slightest remunera- tion been given to any one Contributor, either for translations or original articles.

The circulation of the English scientific journals is so limited, that, taken in the aggregate, the sum realised by their sale falls short of the actual cost of printing and publishing ; a result conse- quent upon their multiplicity, and perhaps still more upon the very general establishment of museums and public libraries ; these in- stitutions affording parties the means of consulting the pages of periodicals, without being obliged to have recourse to individual subscription.

The Magazine of Natural History is very generally admitted to have done much towards exciting an interest in the pursuits con- nected with the investigation of natural objects ; and, so long as circumstances admit of the present Editor's carrying it on, if it con- tinue to receive from various Contributors in future as much support as it has done during the past year, he will persevere in so doing, at least, while there is no actual loss upon its publication.

In pledging himself to this line of proceeding, the Editor feels that he may fairly call upon those who derive interest from the perusal of the work, to second his efforts, by exerting themselves to promote its circulation.

The proposed reduction to forty-eight pages, instead of fifty-six, has not been carried into effect ; but, on the contrary, small type has been introduced, so as considerably to increase the amount of matter in the present Volume.