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INTRODUCTION. 



A S Mr. Lefroy lias written this book largely at my instance, 

 -**• I wish to attach a few words in order to explain its 

 scope. It is not a scientific treatise on Entomology, written 

 for the use and training of Entomologists, but is intended to 

 serve the more humble but useful purpose of a manual of 

 ]3ractical information for the use of the intelligent agricul- 

 turist in the protection of his crops from insect pests. It is 

 also hoped that it will be suitable as a text-book for use in 

 Agricultural Schools and Colleges, all of whose students 

 should acquire a working knowledge of insect pests and of 

 the practical measures possible for the protection of crops. 

 With these objects in view, the author has avoided, wherever 

 possible, scientific terminology, using simple English equi- 

 valents which can easily be understood by persons with no 

 scientific training in Entomology. 



The information available for a l3ook of even this limited 

 scope is very far from complete. A good deal of work 

 has been done in the past for Systematic Entomology in the 

 collection and classification of some groups of Indian insects, 

 more particularly the Butterflies, but it is only within the 

 past few years that any real inquiry has been made into 

 Economic Entomology, dealing with insect pests and their 

 treatment. Eor this reason Mr. Lefroy would prefer to post- 

 pone publication until the material at his disposal is more 

 complete, but I think first, that the information available is 

 already of sufficient importance to give to the public, and 

 second, that the best way of collecting additional information 

 is to interest persons in that already acquired and to show 



