Vlli PREFACE. 



can be identified by their labels. In the absence therefore of 

 the type specimens the beautiful collection of Hentz's paintings 

 and drawings, carefully preserved in the Society's library, is 

 the surest basis remaining for the identification of his species. 

 So far as it has been possible to compare those drawings with 

 specimens they are correct in colors and markings, but seem to 

 have been drawn without measurements, and the legs in nearly 

 all cases are too short. The figures of the eyes are generally 

 good, but those of the maxillge and mandibles are of little use. 



Having thus explained the origin, purpose and plan of this 

 volume, it remains only to present a sketch of Prof. Hentz's 

 life, which, brief as it is, will be, I hope, interesting to 

 Entomologists. 



The materials enabling me to do this have been kindly fur- 

 nished by his eldest son, Dr. Charles Arnould Hentz, of Flor- 

 ence, Alabama. 



» 



Nicholas Marcellus Hentz was born in Versailles, July 

 25, 1797. His father, an advocate by profession, was actively 

 engaged as a politician at the time of Hentz's birth, and had 

 been, shortly before this event, obliged to flee from his home in 

 Paris, and to conceal himself in Versailles under the assumed 

 name of Arnould. To the agonizing fears and alarms which 

 his mother was obliged to undergo during this period, Hentz 

 was wont to attribute the peculiarities of his nervous system, 

 which were, as will be seen, very remarkable. 



At the early age of between twelve and fourteen years he 

 began the study of minature painting, for which he showed 

 greal talent and became highly proficient. He soon, however, 

 became interested in medicine and entered the Hospital Val-de- 



