IV PREFACE. 



fered hitherto fi-om an almost universal neglect. It is very 

 cheering to find that, when an energetic worker steps forward 

 and shows plainly that he means work, assistance comes 

 forward from various unsuspected quarters. 



Mr. Scott's notes " On Hemiptera" will, we trust, be found 

 also to touch a responsive chord, and lead to increased study 

 of those elea:ant but frao;ile insects. As a writer latelv ob- 

 served in the " Saturday Review," '^ we must work trusting 

 that some one of the thousand seeds we sow will take root ; 

 and often good comes where we least rely on it." 



Mr. Smith has kindly furnished, as on previous occasions, 

 some notes on Hymenoptera, observed during the past season ; 

 and has given, in addition, a very complete little Monograph 

 of the Family of the ruby-tailed flies ( Chrysididce). 



Mr. Harpur Crewe has furnished some more notes on the 

 larvEe of the genus Eupithecia, and has indicated those which 

 are yet unknown to him, and the most likely modes of ob- 

 taining them ; we have no doubt he will readily obtain the 

 co-operation which his persevering labours in this field so 

 richly deserve. S 



We have incorporated, in our observations on Tineina, 

 both those which relate to British and to Continental species ; 

 the result will be more acceptable abroad, and it will cer- 

 tainly not be of diminished ultility here. We have to 

 express our hearty thanks to our various Correspondents, 

 who have furnished us with so rich a harvest of observations. 

 T he discoverv of the larva of the sino;ular genus Mici-o- 

 pteri/x affords an amusing illustration of our aptness to look 

 over the very object for which we are searching. The credit 

 of first rearing one of this genus is due to Herr Kaltenbach, 



