vi PREFACE. 



points in which the Bees, Wasps, Ants and their kin differ 

 from the Beetles ; and that on page 385 performs the same 

 service with regard to the Moths and Butterflies. 



In the Woodcuts which are inserted in the text the num- 

 bered figures represent insects, and those to which letters are 

 attached represent the most important details of those insects. 

 It is by means of such details that entomologists are enabled 

 to arrange insects in some definite system, and so to enable 

 anyone who is acquainted with them to identify an insect 

 which he has never before seen. 



The reader may probably notice that these figures of 

 insects are but slightly shaded, and in many cases are little 

 but outline. This is intentional, and the shading is omitted 

 in order that the reader may supply its place by colour. In 

 every case where red, yellow, or light hues of any tint are to be 

 used, their place is left as nearly blank as possible ; and, as 

 the insects are described fully in the text, there will be no 

 difficulty in applying the colours. I would recommend a 

 liberal use of ox-gall in mixing the colours, so as to neutralise 

 the oily lines of the printer's ink. 



Should the reader wish to colour the page-size engravings, 

 lie must first prepare them with a little size, or otherwise the 

 colours will run. It will be found better, in order to bring 

 out the insects more boldly, either to leave the background 

 uncoloured, or to put in the colours as lightly as possible. I 

 very strongly recommend the possessor of the work to colour 

 these illustrations, as he will thus fix the insects firmly in 

 his mind, and quadruple the value of the volume to other 

 readers. 



October 1871. 



