ADDRESS, 
altogether less than 4500 antecedent to the appearance of my 
Systematic Catalogue, in July, 1829, in which 10,1 IG species are 
indicated as indigenous. 
In the Illustrations I have described 7165 species, and charac- 
terized 1114 genera — a greater number than has hitherto been 
introduced into any single Avork on Entomology (the nearest 
approach to that number being Schonherr's Curcuhonidse, in which 
7141 species, and 631 genera, are detailed), — and about 5000 
species, and at least 500 genera, remain to be described ; a task 
I had hoped to have accomplished, but circumstances wholly 
beyond my control have totally frustrated that intention, and the 
work has now passed into other hands, and been brought to a 
conclusion ; notAvithstanding a very considerable portion of the 
manuscript has been long prepared. 
The attempt to describe all the indigenous species of insects, has 
been scouted as a physical impossibility, which is true to a certain 
extent, as no human labours can be perfect ; nevertheless, it is 
evident that an approach may be made towards the attainment of 
the object: how far I have effected the same may be illustrated by 
calling attention to the comparatively few species that have been 
discovered belonging to the portion of this Avork already published, 
notAvithstanding the great increase in the number of practical 
collectors. I may also add, that in my Systematic Catalogue, after 
abathig the unnamed species indicated therein, and the doubtful 
ones, the real number named is 8959, and in Mr. Curtis's Guide, 1st 
edition, which registers 10,420, after a similar process, there remains 
only 8966 ! A tolerable proof that I had made some approxi- 
mation towards the actual number, inasmuch as the Guide took 
full two years to complete, after the appearance of my Catalogue,* 
In the 2nd edition of the Guide, 12,003 species are enumerated, 
• Boisduval, in his Species General des L^pidopteres, p. 140, in speaking of my Ca- 
talogue and Curtis's Guide, says — '* L'ouvrage de M. Stepliens etant posteiieur de quel- 
ques mois a celui de M. Curtis," &c. In answer to whith it is most essential for tbe 
interests of truth and of science to state, that the first 20 columns only of the Guide— (15 
thereof made up from these Illustrations, as far as then completed) — were published on 
the Ist of June, 1829, (>iot i« il/aic/;, as it would appear by the date at the end of tlie 
Preface), n/ifeiior (0 the api)earance of my Catalogue in Jh/j/ following ; the Lcpidop- 
lerouH portion of the Guide not appearing till towards the end <>f 1830. 
