viii PREFACE. 
Donovan, entitled “ Natural History of British In- 
sects,”’ will, with some exceptions, furnish the mo- 
del. ‘The corrections and improvements of the 
Linnean method of classification, by Mr Latreille 
and other illustrious observers, will for the most 
part be adopted. ‘The best artists are engaged to 
execute the plates—these will be engraved with 
the utmost care, from accurate drawings taken from 
the subjects themselves, and not in any instance 
will they be copied from books. 
T am particularly desirous that the plates may 
be well done, and faithfully coloured, so as to pre- 
sent accurate and characteristic representations of 
the originals. 
In the descriptions and biography of the insects 
I shall use as few words as perspicuity will admit, 
and as my object is truth, any errors, which from 
the circumstances of the case must inevitably occur, 
will be promptly rectified as soon as they are indi- 
cated to me by others or detected by myself. 
In addition to the aid which the plates of this 
publication will afford to those who are desirous of 
