8 



In the followinc^ passes no attempt has been made to suppl)" a 

 detailed technical description of each species illustrated in the plates. 

 In the case of the majority of the species, at an\' rate, it is beliexed 

 that the plates will render such descriptions unnecessary, and, apart 

 from this, the man\- demands upon the author's official time would 

 have made their preparation impossible. The same reason, coupled 

 with limitations of space, has also unfc^tunatel}- necessitated the 

 omission of a considerable amount of matter relating to the life- 

 history of the species mentioned, but brief notes on life-history are 

 included in the remarks upon each famih'. Since it was thought 

 that British readers might be interested to learn in what other 

 countries our native Blood-Sucking Flies are found, the geographical 

 distribution of each species so far as it is known has in all cases been 

 stated. References to original descriptions of genera and species, 

 and discussions of synonj-ni}-, though nccessaril}- included in a 

 monograph, have here been omitted as out of place in a work which 

 does not profess to be more than a popular account of the insects 

 of which it treats. Since the [jrimarj- object of this book is to 

 facilitate by means of the plates the identification of Blood-Siicking 

 Flies, the males that (probably with the exception of those of species 

 belonging to the Muscida; and Hippoboscidre) do not suck blood 

 have not, as a rule, been illustrated. 



The original water-colour drawings of the species represented 

 have been prepared b}- Mr. A. J. Engel Terzi with his usual care and 

 exceptional skill, and a word of acknowledgment is also due to 

 Mr. Harry F. VVithcrby (of Messrs. W'itherby and Co.), who has 

 personally supervised their reproduction, and has been unremitting 

 in his endeavours to produce thorough!)- satisfactory copies of the 

 artist's beautiful work. A special feature deser\ing of note in 

 connection with the illustrations is the use oi periiuiiicut paper for 

 the plates, instead of the perishable coated paper generally emplo\-ed 

 for three-colour work. The change has greatly increased the 

 difficulties of reproduction, but it is hoped that it will be appreciated 

 by purchasers of the book. 



Field notes on many of the species illustrated and mentioned in 

 the text have been kindly contributed by Lieut.-Colonel J. W. 



