INTRODUCTION. 



In bringing together for the first time, descriptions of all the species 

 of Butterflies which occur in ISIorth America, north of Mexico, I have 

 experienced considerable difiiculty. It has been impossible for me to 

 see specimens of some species, hence I have been obliged to compile 

 descriptions in quite a number of cases, and scattered as the literature 

 upon this subject is, through publications in this country and abroad, 

 the task has not been an easy one ; but as I have in the majority of species 

 consulted original descriptions, the compilation can be relied upon as 

 being correct. 



As this book is intended for the use of the tyro as well as for the 

 advanced student, I have avoided the use of technical terms as far as 

 possible, reducing the various methods of descriptions to a uniform sys- 

 tem. Thus I trust that this work will be readily comprehended by every 

 one who desires to consult its pages, Avithout first being obliged to learn 

 the peculiar applications Avhich those who make the study of Butterflies 

 a specialty, have seen fit to give to the various parts of these insects. 

 Professional specialists are too apt to overlook the fact, that the average 

 student who wishes to know something of every class of animal about 

 him, has no time to learn a peculiar system of nomenclature with each; 

 while simple designations are intelligible alike to the amateur and pro- 

 fessional student. 



I have, in every species, made the description as short as possible, 

 using, where I could do so, the comparative method, as being less con- 

 fusing. In order to facilitate identification, not only is a colored plate 

 given of one species of nearly all the genera, but wood cuts are given of 

 some portion of about two hundred and fifty species, illustrating some 

 peculiar character by which the insect may be known. Both plates and 

 wood cuts have, with a single exception, been drawn and engraved by 

 myself 



The arrangement given is that published by Mr. W. H. Edwards 

 in his catalogue of 1884. I have used it because I think it the most 

 likely to meet with the approval of the greater portion of entomologists 



