PREFACE. 
In putting forward this little Work to the notice of his Ento- 
mological brethren, and to those, whose love for the wonderful 
works of the Creation has induced them to look into the 
beauties of the Insect world, the author has been encouraged 
by the oft-repeated assurance of many Entomologists of the 
present and former times—that one good figure of an Insect 
is better than the most elaborate description by itself. 
The truth of the above assertion has been much vindicated 
by the increased number of works which have of late appeared, 
containing the most beautifully executed figures yet presented 
to the world; and it is therefore in the hope, that a figure of 
each of the known species of the Libellulinee of Great Britain 
(one of the most interesting sections of this much neglected 
order of Insects) may not prove unacceptable, that he has 
thus employed his leisure hours, all having been drawn and 
coloured by the author with the greatest care from the 
Insects themselves.’ At the same time, he has been desirous 
of presenting them in a form accessible to those who might 
not be enabled to possess themselves of the more expensive 
and voluminous works of such Entomologists who have al- 
ready described some of the Insects herein figured which are 
not novelties. 
Wie Ee i 
