viii AUTHOR'S PREFACE, 



for British larvae and pupae. Of course this part of the work 

 might have been enlarged to any extent, but probably most of 

 my readers will think that I have devoted quite enough space 

 to synonymy. 



The Introduction deals with the general external structure of 

 Lepidopterous insects and especially Butterflies in their various 

 stages ; special attention being given to neuration, collecting 

 and preserving, and geographical distribution. I have also re- 

 printed from the "Entomologist" a very interesting paper on 

 the habits of insects, especially Lepidoptera^ in the Dutch East 

 Indies. 



The present volume is devoted to the great family Nympha- 

 lidce, which, with its sub-divisions, includes about half the 

 known Butterflies ; the next volume will contain the remaining 

 families, and will thus complete the subject, so far as the 

 Butterflies are concerned. 



It is perhaps as well to state that the volumes on Entomo- 

 logy in the old issue of the " Naturalist's Library " were all 

 written by James Duncan, of Edinburgh. Prof. Westwood 

 contributed figures and information to some of the other 

 volumes (see " Entomologist's Monthly Magazine," vol. xxi., 

 pp. 181-186), but not to those on British and Exotic Butter- 

 flies. 



W. F. KIRBY. 



