PREFACE. .1 



I have availed myself freely of the works of Messrs. 

 Maskell, Crawford, and others, in which tabular com- 

 pilations are given of the experiments made on insect 

 pests, which have been recorded chiefly in the various 

 American publications, and have aj^pended some personal 

 observations. 



The plates have been produced under my direction by 

 Mr. C. C. Brittle])ank, of the Field Naturalists' Club. 

 They are all faithful representations of the objects 

 delineated, the aim being to produce figures which may 

 be understood at a glance. 



Where it was possible to obtain specimens of the 

 insects themselves this has been done, and the drawings 

 have been made from nature. But, as in some cases the 

 sjDecimens were not obtainable, the drawings have been 

 made from authenticated plates, and the sources are duly 

 acknowledged. 



The lithographing has been executed by the well-known 

 Melbourne firms of Messrs. Troedel and Co. and Messrs. 

 Sands and McDougall, and the printing of the letter-press 

 by the Government Printing Office. 



This Handbook is. intended to be a practical work, 

 illustrated with useful figures, and contains as few 

 technical descriptions as is consistent with accuracy, so 

 that those who use it may be enabled to readily recognise 

 the various insects with which they may have to deal. 



The First Part contains a systematic description, with 

 an account of the noxious insects of the colony which 

 attack Apples, Pears, Apricots, and Cherries; the re- 

 maining Parts of the work will be brought out as quickly 

 as possible. 



