PREFACE. 



MY original intention, in the preparation of this work, was 

 simply to have given a list of all the known South African 

 Butterflies, with notes on their habits, localities, &c., only 

 describing the new or previously undescribed species. 



On further consideration, however, and with the advice of 

 several friends, I resolved to make original descriptions of all 

 the species, feeling convinced that, by so doing, the utility of 

 the work would be greatly increased ; especially to those 

 resident in the South African Colonies, to most of whom the 

 study of Entomology is new, and who have few or no oppor- 

 tunities of reference to arranged collections of insects or 

 entomological works. 



For this task I was in some measure prepared by a year's 

 residence in the Cape colony, during which period the 

 greater portion of my time was occupied in the collection and 

 observation of the Lepidoptera of the country. On my 

 return to England, I enjoyed, through the kindness of Dr. 

 GRAY, F.R.S., &c., the advantage of continual access to the 

 Entomological Department of the British Museum ; obtain- 

 ing from its splendid collections and valuable works of 

 reference descriptions of the great majority of known South 

 African species. 



To render the work of real use to those who have not 

 studied the subject, I felt that, besides an Introduction, it 

 was necessary to give the distinguishing characters of each 

 Family and Genus, labour that would have been superfluous 

 in a Catalogue intended for Entomologists only. This 

 additional matter, with the equally necessary Glossary, and 

 detailed observations, so much increased the size of the work 

 that I resolved to publish it in two parts. In the present 

 volume the first five of the Families of South African 

 Butterflies are included, comprising rather more than half 

 the number of known species.* 



Doubtful species, i.e., those that are probably only varieties of other 

 species are marked thus * : and species whose occurrence in Africa South of 

 the Tropic is uncertain, thus f 



