AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



The fourth volume of the Handbook of Lepidoptera deals 

 with a limited number of families, and completes our synopsis 

 of the Moths roughly classed as Sphinges and Bombyces, with 

 the exception of the Sesudce, or Small Clear-wings, which will 

 be discussed later. The families at present under review are 

 among those which include many of the largest and hand- 

 somest, as well as some of the most valuable, of the Moths ; 

 such as the Sphingidce^ or Hawk-moths proper; \\\q Bonibyddce, 

 or true Silkworm Moths ; and the Safurniidce^ or Atlas and 

 Emperor Moths, which may also be called Ocellated Silk- 

 worm Moths. The silk of many of the larger species is of 

 great economic importance in the countries where they are 

 found, being locally of almost equal value with that produced 

 by the true silkworms. Of the Sp/iingidm we have been able 

 to figure all the British species, and a selection of foreign 

 ones j while among the Saturiiiidce we have figured our own 

 Emperor Moth (the sole British representative of the family) 

 and various foreign species, including two of the most typical 

 Indian Silkworm Moths, with their larvae. This volume like- 

 wise includes representatives of two remarkable families" not 

 represented in Europe, the CeratocampidcJ^ and Piuai-idiv^ as 

 well as several other European and exotic families of Moths, 



