TRANS AC ELON S 
OF THE 
ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
OF 
LONDON. 
I. Trichoptera Britannica ; a Monograph of the British 
Species of Caddis-flies. By Rosert M‘Lacutan, 
F.L.S. 
[Read 6th March, 5th June, and 2nd Oct., 1865. ] 
Ir is now five years since I resolved to take up the study of 
that heterogeneous mass of insects forming the Linnean order 
Neuroptera, my attention having been directed thereto by the 
publication of Dr. Hagen’s papers on the British species in the 
“ Entomologist’s Annual ;” and above all others the Caddis-flies 
appeared to stand in need of diligent examination. I had often, when 
in pursuit of Lepidoptera, captured these insects, either by accident 
or design, and always looked upon them with interest, and then 
formed the idea of working out a Monograph of the British Species, 
which I now beg to bring before this Society. The completion 
of it has been retarded by various circumstances, not the least of 
which has been the difficulty of the subject. But I have had to 
work nearly alone in this country, and with the exception of the 
assistance kindly rendered by friends who have forwarded to me 
any specimens they may have captured, I have had to rely almost 
entirely upon my own exertions. Had it not been, therefore, for 
the friendship and co-operation of Dr. Hagen, the authority par 
excellence on these insects, it is probable that the publication of 
this Monograph might have been postponed indefinitely. But 
from the moment that I first announced my intention of under- 
VOL. V. THIRD SERIES, PART I. —ocT. 1865. B 
