PREFACE. 
THE present number is intended as the integral 
portion of « publication of no inconsiderable mag- 
nitude on the insects of North America. 
But little, I might almost say nothing, has yet 
been done in the United States, in relation to the 
very interesting and important science upon which 
this work is intended to treat; while, in other de- 
partments of natural history, we have publications 
honourable to the republic, there is not, as far 
as I know, in the archives of American science, 
the record of an indigenous work on this subject. 
In Europe, a celebrated writer informs us, the 
insects, so numerous, so diversified in their charac- 
b ters, in their colouring so elegant and varied, and 
so singular in their manners, have so much interest 
under these different relations, that of all the ani- 
