14 INTUODUCTORY KEMABKS. 



usque ad genera persecuti sumus. Ita, secundum opus laudatum, 

 Animalia in quinque subregna ; quinque classes dividuntur. Porro, 

 secundum nostras observationes, Crustacea continent quinque Or- 

 dines, quinque Tribus, quinque Familias, quinque Genera." 





In the foregoing introductory remarks, I have endeavoured to 

 detail the principles which will direct me in the compilation of this 

 Catalogue. The indications afforded by the several individuals 

 described in all stages of their existence, will be carefully studied 

 and applied. I have acknowledged the advantage derived from 

 the examination of the "Hora? Entomologicae " of Mr. Macleay, and 

 especially from his remark, that ^'^ considerations founded on the 

 metamorphoses must ultimately produce the most natural plan of 

 entomological arrangement." But I desire that it may be distinctly 

 understood, that it is not my purpose to give an illustration of his 

 particular system ; my object being to contribute a fragment 

 towards a future enterprise of a more qualified entomologist. In 

 a collection from a territory of limited geographical extent, large 

 chasms remain to be supplied from more extensive localities. In 

 the construction of my groups, I shall endeavour to discover the 

 prominent forms, and to arrange them according to their affinities ; 

 and where their analogies to the Ametabola are evident, I shall 

 point them out ; but I shall not attempt to form them strictly on 

 the model given by Mr. Macleay, or to pursue their division into 

 typical and aberrant forms. 



My reference to the works of Mr. Vigors on Birds, and to 

 Dr. De Haan on Crustacea, is to afford a confirmation of Mr. 

 Macleay 's views, but not as an indication of my intention to 

 pursue the subject in this Catalogue, to the same extent to which 

 they have pursued it. The most natural division of the order of 

 Lepidoptera, which may result from my examination, is reserved 

 for a future stage of this work ; in the first part I propose to 

 describe the Papiliones, Sphinges, and Bombyces. 



THOMAS HOBSFIELD. 



LiBBAKY, East-India House, 

 Fchruary Uth, 1857. 



