VI PREFACE. 



are supposed to be so. In this family, however, the synonymy is com- 

 paratively small, owing chiefly, no doubt, to the fact that until lately 

 comparatively little attention has been paid to the group, and the species 

 in it seem to vary less than in other groups, so that fewer slight varieties 

 have been named. 



In all 230 species are described, and as of these over eighty have 

 .been discriminated within the last nine years ; there is no doubt, how- 

 ever, that numerous other species exist still unnamed. 



Mr. de Niceville has very kindly revised my list of genera and 

 species, and suggested several alterations and additions, all of which, 

 it is needless to say, have been adopted ; he has also obtained for me 

 such descriptions as I found inaccessible, and has, at a great expense 

 of time and trouble, revised most of the proofs, and it is difficult to 

 express the thanks that are due to him. 



In conclusion, my thanks are especially due to Dr. Edgar Thurston, 

 the Superintendent of the Government Central Museum, Madras, for the 

 free access he has allowed me to the library in his charge, without the 

 use of which this work could never have been attempted. 



I had hoped to preface each genus with a short synopsis of species, 

 on the system employed in "The Butterflies of India, Burmah and 

 Ceylon," but have reluctantly been obliged to relinquish the intention 

 owing to the inadequate material at my disposal, and can only hope that 

 the characteristics given with each species will be sufficient to enable it 

 to be identified in nearly every case. 



