INTRODUCTORY REMARKS ON THE ENTOMOLOGY 
OF ‘DEE,’ 
Having already given in detail an account of what has been 
done up to this date in the way of increasing our knowledge of © 
the Entomology of this part of Scotland, it is not necessary that 
I should go over the same ground again, or should mention what 
has been done by each observer in every case; though in the 
case of rare insects it is desirable to have the name of the captor 
or possessor, as adding authenticity to the record. 
In most orders of insects our knowledge is still very fragmen- 
tary, and there is much to be done before anything like a com- 
plete list can be attempted. Even among the Coleoptera there 
are many blanks in ‘ Dee’ in the list of Scottish Coleoptera by 
Dr. Sharp that has been appearing for some time in the Scottish 
Naturalist. Among the Lepidoptera we may claim to have a fair 
knowledge of the ‘ Macros, thanks to the labours of not a few 
workers in this city and neighbourhood, whom I would take this 
opportunity of thanking for their cordial and welcome aid in en- 
abling me to compile the list of species subjoined. Of the 
Tineina, however, we as yet know very little; while our know- © 
ledge of the Tortrices is still very defective. To Dr. Vice we 
owe it that an accurate and trustworthy list of species of some 
of the families of Diptera is obtainable. Of all the remaining 
orders of insects our knowledge is still of the most fragmentary 
kind, as will be seen from the very brief lists that follow. I 
trust that some of our younger members may be led to study 
the neglected but most interesting orders of which we know so 
little. Not a few are deterred by what they regard as the dry 
and tedious work of determining species. To such I would say 
that zoological pursuits are forbidding only to those on the 
threshold, and that they are soon found a most agreeable and 
pleasant relaxation from other studies, especially when, as ought 
to be the case, indoor studies and out of door observations of 
habits, and other points in the life history of the subjects of 
study, are made to go hand in hand. 
In the following lists I have restricted myself to the district 
between the basin of the North Esk on the South, and the basin 
of the Spey (including the Deveron) on the North and West. 
