64. THE GENERA AND SPECIES OF BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. 
observation and research, to endeavour to fill up the lacunze which still exist in the history of 
the preparatory stages of some of the most conspicuous species. 
Considering that we can scarcely reckon more than sixty species, and that we have perhaps 
double that number of good field Entomologists at work every season, (that is about two or 
perhaps more to each butterfly,) it appears strange that any stage of development of any single 
species should still remain unknown to us. Yet such is the fact, for we are as yet totally 
unacquainted with the Caterpillar stage of the beautiful and conspicuous insect, known as the 
“Small Copper,” and several other species which are equally common and well known in their 
perfect state. It has been recently stated by one of our most distinguished Entomological writers, 
that we positively know more of the tranformations of the obscure and minute British Moths, 
than of those of our conspicuous and beautiful Butterflies. But this remark, though intended as 
an honest incentive to research, is rather a bold exaggeration ; for while we are ignorant of the 
larvee and pupa stages of our Butterflies only in a small number of instances, in the case of the 
small Moths, we know nothing of the preparatory stages of much more than half their number. 
Mr. Logan, in Scotland, has recently done much to investigate the transformations of some 
of the species which are in Scotland, and has published figures of the Caterpillars of several, 
which were not before known. I hope that his successful example may stimulate the exertions 
of some of our English Entomologists, and that before many more seasons have passed, we shall 
be able to produce a really “complete” history of our British Buttertlies in all their stages, 
Hs NE 
