Tlii PREFACE. 



natural size. Varieties, where they can be procured, will 

 also be figured ; thus, in the parts already published, there 

 are five figures of Grossulariata, six of Silaceata, three of 

 Russata, and so on : it is my wish to makej each species 

 recognizable in all its forms. It is by the loan of such 

 varieties that entomologists can render the science a most 

 important service. Mr. Doubleday, Mr. Bond and Mr. 

 Wellman are already assisting me with the utmost cordiality, 

 and, as I advance towards completion, others are invited 

 to unite. In this work the life-history of each species 

 will be given, so far as I have ascertained it : and the vast 

 amount of information gained within the last few years will 

 strike every reader as something wonderful. Most earnestly 

 do 1 entreat that entomologists will forward me descriptions 

 of larvae whenever they have made them. The life-histories 

 are arranged and tolerably complete as far as the end of the 

 Cuspidalae, but the whole of the Noctuae remain to be 

 described, and it is in writing the life-histories of these that 

 I more particularly desire assistance : from time to time I 

 propose to give, in the pages of the ' Entomologist,' a list of 

 those larvae that are most desired. 



Lastly, I look forward to the publication, in March, of a 

 little tract, as it might be called, under the title of " The 

 Insect-Hunter's Year-book:" its object will be to give a sum- 

 mary of the entomological discoveries of the previous year, as 

 regards Great Britain and Ireland ; it will be arranged in the 

 most compendious form, and published at the lowest possible 

 price. The size of page and paper will be uniform with the 

 ' Entomologist,' to which it will form a sort of systematic 

 Index. 



EDWARD NEWMAN. 



