EDITOR'S PREFACE. 



Mr. Kirby has so fully explained the plan pursued in issuing 

 the present volume of the " Naturalist's Library" that I need 

 only refer the reader to the accompanying " Preface " which 

 he has written. 



In any case, it seems better to publish the bibliographical 

 chapter here, than to divide the great group of Noduci^ into 

 two parts, and place half of them in vol. iv. and the other 

 in vol. V. I have consequendy kept the Noctuce intact for 

 the latter volume, and have issued all the bibliographical work, 

 and other general articles written by Mr. Kirby originally for 

 the fifth volume, in the present one. 



R. BOWDLER SHARPE. 

 January 20th, 1897. 



