PREFACE. XXI 



On its completion, Mr. Newman made preparations for con- 

 tinuing the ' Illustrated Natural History of British Moths,' which 

 was commenced in ' Young England.' Five numbers (80 pp.) had 

 been brought out by Mr. Tweedie, in direct contravention of 

 Mr. Newman's wish, and without his knowledge : for these five 

 numbers, written at a much earlier date than the remainder and 

 not printed under his supervision, he never would hold himself 

 responsible. It will be seen at once that they are incomplete, 

 and stand sorely in need of the care bestowed upon the rest of 

 the work. Mr. Newman was eventually induced to continue the 

 work, and having once consented he, as usual, laboured with 

 all his heart. The descriptions of the perfect insect and of the 

 larva are most careful and accurate, indeed almost microscopic. 

 The figures, of which there are more than eight hundred, were 

 drawn and engraved under his own superintendence. In all his 

 former works the woodcuts had been drawn by himself, and 

 engraved by Mr. Kirchner ; but now the allotted span of life 

 was nearly reached, and his artistic powers had failed. The 

 engraver was the same, however ; and the beauty and accuracy 

 of the figures are in great measure owing to his care and skiU. 

 This book came out in monthly numbers, the last one appearing 

 in June, 1869, when the complete volume was published. 



Immediately upon the conclusion of ' British Moths ' (486 pp. 

 super-royal 8vo), the companion work was commenced, — 

 'An Illustrated Natural History of British Butterflies' (1871), 

 on which even greater care was evinced, as especial attention 

 was given to geographical distribution. These two works form 

 the text-book of British Macro-Lepidoptera. 



' British Butterflies' was written in Mr. Newman's seventieth 

 year, and was his last complete work. Two years previously he 

 had retu-ed from business, but by no means from labour. He 

 was at first actively engaged on the above-mentioned work, 

 and on its completion the ' Zoologist,' the ' Entomologist,' and 

 the ' Field,' kept him fully occupied. He was often to be seen 

 at the Crystal Palace Aquarium, and the result of the visits is 

 to be found in various papers in those journals. In the j^ear 

 1868 he had built an aviary in his garden, and this was a 

 constant source not only of recreation, but of study. There he 

 would sit, untn the birds became so tame as to fly to him on his 



