viii AUTHOR'S PREFACE. 



which no great modification of the previous systems of classifi- 

 cation was attempted. In the introductory portion of the next 

 volume I propose to give a short resume of the more important 

 systems of classification of the Lepidoptera (especially in regard 

 to Moths) which have been proposed since the time of Linnaeus. 



A considerable number of species are here figured for the 

 first time. In the selection of new figures, unfigured species 

 have usually been chosen, so far as they were sufficiently repre- 

 sentative, and in the case of previously unfigured species, and 

 little-known genera, I have thought it best to give the descrip- 

 tions as far as possible in the words of the original describers. 

 The discovery of the larva of Micronia (comp. p. 43) shews 

 that the genus belongs to the Uraniida rather than to the 

 Geometra. 



W. F. KIRBY. 



Chiswick, September 5, 1896. 



