viii PUEFACE. 



that I do not love to study, and to become more and more intimately 

 acquainted with the members of. They are all the creations of the same 

 wonderful Being — "the hand that made them is Divine!" 



And if there be one branch of Natural History which is to me more 

 captivatingly interesting than another, it is Entomology; one which is more- 

 over so easy of full gratification, so compatible with every pursuit, so productive 

 of friendly feeling with others, so amalgamative of the high and low together 

 in perfect amity, so singularly pleasing and delightful in itself. I trust, indeed 

 that 1 have not forgotten, do not forget, and never shall forget, that I have 

 high and holy duties to perform, to which all else must be subordinate and 

 give way. As a servant of the Church, a minister of the Gospel of Christ, 

 I willingly sacrifice natural wishes to the cause of duty. It is but a few brief 

 moments that I snatch for that which is naturally most pleasing to me. 

 Knowing, however, that these studies are innocent in themselves; that they 

 may, with many, prevent other pursuits which, if followed, would assuredly 

 cause risk of most serious danger; that they add to the amount of human 

 happiness, and that, if used as they always should be, they infallibly lead 

 from the works of Nature up to the God of Nature, in feelings of the holiest 

 adoration and most humble worship, I encourage others to follow them, so 

 far as it may be right for them to do so, and have undertaken, at the 

 request of another, to write the following Natural History of British Butterflies, 

 and to supply particulars which I have felt the want of myself. 



There are already other works of a similar kind, which have been extensively 

 and deservedly patronized, and of them it is no part, either of my business 

 or my inclination, to speak: neither is it for me to speak of my own: they 

 have spoken for their authors ; let mine, too, speak for me. 



F. O. MORRIS. 



