COMMON BRITISH INSECTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



INTRODUCTION. 



THERE is scarcely a branch of science, however 

 interesting it may be, which does not at first repel 

 the intending student by the array of strange words 

 with which the treasures of knowledge are surrounded. 

 This is especially the case in Botany and Zoology, 

 which contain, in addition to the usual technical 

 language, vast numbers of names belonging to various 

 plants or animals, each name consisting of two words, 

 one denoting the genus and the other the species. 



In the following pages I intend to describe, as far 

 as possible within so limited a space, the butterflies 

 moths, and beetles of Great Britain, and, though 

 giving the needful scientific information, to use few 

 technical terms, and always to explain those which of 

 necessity must be employed. 



OUR first business is evidently, when treating of 

 these insects, to define precisely what an insect is, 



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