Capt. Keay, "1 also at Maryland, New York, Caro- 



Mr. Smeathman, f Una, where they are very large. 

 Mr. Milward, 1756, Lin. Syst. p. 560, f. 4. 

 Mr. Bonifas, 1775, that on the right hand from Mr. 



Laing, at Tobago. 

 Bought at Seynnour's sale. 



Here it is quite evident that Drury had carefully noted down the localities of all 

 the specimens of this insect which he possessed, and which are now descrihed as distinct 

 species ; and this extract will I think be quite sufficient to shew, that from the careful 

 manner in which these Catalogues were kept by Mr. Drury, we are entitled to regard 

 them, when there happens to be a difference between the works of Drury and Fabricius, 

 Linnaeus, &c. as at least of equal authority with the writings of these authors. I regret 

 that these Catalogues did not come into my hands until after the first and second volumes 

 of this edition were printed off". I have incorporated the notes in the third volume ; and 

 have given, as an Appendix, extracts from these Catalogues, where there happens to be 

 any variation or doubt as to the locality of any of the species figured in the first two 

 volumes. 



I have almost invariably adopted the very proper principle of referring to that name, 

 either generic or specific, which has the priority in point of date. In the first edition, 

 the first volume appeared without specific names, which were at that time a novelty but 

 recently introduced by Linnaeus. In the second volume, however, an appendix was given, 

 containing specific names both of the first and second volumes, and a similar appendix was 

 given at the end of the third volume ; but no specific names appeared in the body of 

 the work. To many of the names contained in the appendices Fabricius referred, many he 

 entirely omitted, and for many he substituted others. These last I have of course rejected ; 

 and have in many instances given the dates when the names were first imposed by the 

 different authors — a plan which would be very serviceable if generally adopted. I have, 

 likewdse, made a point in many cases of restoring the specific proper names, where, in 

 consequence of a change in the sex of the generic name, a corresponding change had been 

 made in such specific name. This alteration had been carried to a great extent in the 

 Encyclopedic Methodique ; and many male and female proper names had been completely 

 altered, in order to suit them to the sex of the new genera in which they were placed. 

 This was, however, an error on the wrong side ; because it is admitted as an established 

 principle, that if it should be thought necessary to subdivide a genus, the names of the 

 subdivisions should be of the sex of the original generic name. 



The plan upon which the first edition of this work was published may be seen from 

 the following specimen, which is one of the shortest given, but which will be sufficient to 

 shew not only the style of the former edition, but also the manner in which I have treated 

 the subject and the additions which I have introduced. 



