PREFACE. Vll 



above authors are nearly useless to the tyro in 

 Entomology. The student having lately acquired 

 the rudiments of science, naturally applies to the 

 Systema NatursB of Linneus for further information. 

 He is surprised at the extreme brevity of the generic 

 characters, and can depend little on the sections 

 or sub-divisions of the genera described generally in 

 a few words. He next has recourse to the Entomo- 

 logica Systematica of Fabricius, where he is at once 

 overwhelmed by the barbarous terms of the latter 

 writer, and sighs for the classic elegance of the 

 former. After much study and loss of time both are 

 abandoned in despair, and if he still continues a 

 desire to prosecute the study of Insects, he is com- 

 pelled to seek information in the more voluminous 

 writers of Sweden, Germany, and France. Should 

 the student be a Linguist all is well ; if not, further 

 pursuit is altogether hopeless ; consequently, the 

 study of some of the most beautiful and varied forms 

 of the Creation becomes abandoned, and the science 

 of Entomology is deprived of the assistance of many 

 who might have contributed to its renown. With 

 the scientific the united works of Linneus and Fa- 

 bricius must ever be considered as essential to the 

 study of Entomology, and I know of no better means 

 of rendering their labours acceptable to the young 



