PREFACE. 



WITH the present volume Mr. Kirby completes his survey of 

 the Butterflies, with the exception of the Hesperiidce, which 

 will be published in the third volume, where the author will 

 commence his review of the Moths. 



Mr. Kirby is especially well-known as an authority on 

 entomological bibliography, and it is not surprising to find 

 that his recent researches into the nomenclature of Butterflies 

 have led him to arrive at conclusions concerning the proper 

 names of our British species somewhat different from those 

 adopted in most modern works. The confusion of nomencla- 

 ture in the Lepidoptera seems to be even greater than that which 

 recently existed among the Birds ; but even as Ornithologists 

 are gradually progressing towards an uniform system of 

 nomenclature, so it may be hoped that Lepidopterists also will 

 speedily arrive at definite conclusions as to the names which 

 the British species of Butterflies should bear. From this 

 point of view, I hope that Mr. Kirby's volume will be found 

 to contain some useful conclusions. 



R. BOWDLER SHARPE. 



