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PREFACE. 



Tjie object of this volume is to furnish descriptions of all the 

 species of Tineina (a group of Leptuopteka) at i)resent known 

 to inhabit Great Britain^, and at the same time to give as much 

 information concerning their habits and transformations as tlu; 

 limited space would allow. Each species is car(>fully described 

 from actual specimens, and each genus is founded on the micro- 

 scopical investigation of all (or nearly all) the species comprised 

 in it. In some few instances, to avoid a premature multiplication 

 of genera, species are placed in a genus though not quite agreeing 

 witli its essential characters; in such cases care has been taken 

 to point out wherein these ditl'crences consist, so that, should the 

 further progress of the science rerpiire the creation of new genera, 

 tliis will be facilitated by the details here given. The habits 

 noticed are in most instanc(;s the result of perso7ial research, al- 

 though advantage has been taken of the observations of others 

 where there was no doubt to what species tliey were intended to 

 apply. The transformations of the species, from their great va- 

 riety, offer an endless field of amusement ; and my object being 

 to give full but concise details, general observations thereon are 

 placed at the commencement of each genus. In every case where 

 no observations occur concerning the larva of a species, it must 

 be underslood that we are still unacquainted with it. As a rule, 



