IV 



not have been justified, either to the purchasers of the former volumes, or to myself. 

 Many of them, there is no doubt, would not have the figures of those insects alluded to, 

 unless in this work •, and, as to my part, without considering the loss, neither my business, 

 my health, nor my leisure, would have enabled me to supply their place. This very 

 circumstance I have mentioned in the Preface to my last volume, wherein I bespoke the 

 candour of my readers for an anticipation of a similar kind, which got abroad before I 

 could bring out that volume. In the present case, I have the greatest reason to request 

 the same indulgence from a motive still stronger, which is, that almost all the figures given 

 by other authors, and which I have quoted in the index, were taken from specimens origi- 

 nally in my possession. As it is, I hope, the novelty, the beauty, and the curiosity of the 

 other insects herein published, will, by affording large gratification to the inquisitive natu- 

 ralist, make some amends, and that the nature of my situation will procure me a full 

 acquittal from any kind of premeditated imposition. 



In regard to the manners and economy of the insects now published, I have been able 

 to get little information. There are very few, even of those who collect abroad, who will 

 give themselves the trouble of making observations ; and such as do not want inclination 

 or ability, and even travel expressly for the purpose, find great, and to us almost incon- 

 ceivable impediments. 



Mr. Smeathman, who has been many years in Africa and the West Indies, has fur- 

 nished me with a few remarks on this subject, together with observations on some particular 

 insects, published in the preceding volumes as well as this. These observations, I am of 

 opinion, will afford information and entertainment to my readers, and, at the same time, 

 throw some light on the nature, qualities, or dispositions of many kinds of insects, of which, 

 hitherto, we know nothing more than the external figure. He informs me, that in hot 

 climates, especially such as are not well settled, the difficulties attending every kind of 

 study, and every species of collecting, are infinitely greater than those who have not visited 

 them can possibly suppose. In those countries, either from the scarcity and high price of 

 the materials, or the dearness of labour, the traders or settlers are obliged to calculate for 

 little more than necessary house-room, with such conveniences only as are absolutely 

 necessaiy for their different occupations and pursuits ; in which they are, from these 

 circumstances, frequently much cramped and embarrassed. If this is the case wdth those 

 who have all the best means in their power of providing for themselves, how must it be 

 with transient persons and speculative travellers, who are seldom profitable visitors, and 

 whose studies consequently meet with little partiality from such as are assiduously engaged 

 in the sole pursuit of wealth or power ? 



As to the breeding of insects, and observing their changes and dispositions with care 

 and circumspection, it seems almost impossible in the nature of things to be practised, 

 except, comparatively speaking, with a very few. 



(The ravages of the tropical ants and cock-roaches are then detailed from the informa- 



