def max_entries(self, entries):
        """
        Chance the maximum number of retained log entries
        :param entries: The maximum number of log entries to retain at any given time
        :type  entries: int
        """
        self._debug_log.info('Changing maximum log entries from {old} to {new}'
                             .format(old=self._log_entries, new=entries))
        self._max_entries = entries

        # This is a bit awkward, but since the maxlen can't be changed after instantiation, we have to reverse the
        # deque before re-instantiating it, then reverse the new deque back in order to preserve the reverse order
        # in case any entries are truncated
        self._log_entries.reverse()
        self._log_entries = deque(self._log_entries, maxlen=self._max_entries)
        self._log_entries.reverse()