6^t 



PEEFACE. 



This little work is intended merely as an intro- 

 duction to that department of Entomology of 

 whicli it treats. 



The Moths of England are so numerous, that 

 the mere mention of the names and synonyms of 

 all the species would fill the entire book. It 

 is necessary, therefore, to make a selection of 

 them, and this has been done so that the young 

 Entomologist will find in the following pages a 

 figure and description of nearly every Moth that 

 he is likely to find. As a rule, the commonest 

 and most conspicuous species have been selected; 

 and although one or two of the rarer Moths are 

 mentioned, it is because they are too important 

 to be omitted. 



Throughout the whole of the book I have 

 endeavoured to keep in mind the sort of instruc- 

 tion which I needed when beginning the study 

 of Entomology without any guide whatever, and 

 I trust that this little work will supply to my 

 successors the help which I so greatly needed in 

 times now past. 



