PREFACE 



Not one, even of the many books made in these days, 

 is likely to be thought superfluous by its author. And 

 in spite of — to a great extent indeed because of — the 

 thousand and more original works on Insects now 

 published yearly, it seems that the student has need 

 of a small inexpensive, English book, sketching in 

 outline the whole subject of entomology. 



Such a volume as this is necessarily for the 

 most part a compilation. To save space, the names 

 of authorities are not mentioned in the text ; but 

 reference figures in heavy type call attention to the 

 bibliography at the end of the book, where a list 

 of works consulted by the author, or likely to be of 

 special use to the student, will be found. Particu- 

 lar acknowledgment, however, is due to Professors 

 Miall and Denny, whose admirable monograph on 

 the Cockroach has been largely used in the opening 

 chapter ; to Professor A. S. Packard, whose recent 

 Text-book has been invaluable both as a store of 

 facta and a guide to the literature ; and to Dr D. 

 Sharp, whose contribution to the "Cambridge Natural 

 History," has been especially useful in preparing the 

 systematic part of this book. Much help has also 

 been derived from the systematic writings of Colonel 

 Bingham, Canon Fowler, Sir G. F. Hampson, Mr W. 



