PREFACE. 



MY WORK is completed. I am bound to commend it to the "benevolent reader'* in 

 the good old-fashioned, time-honoured style. Fettered by usage, equally old- 

 fashioned, equally time-honoured, I am induced to place this commendation in front, 

 although I entirely agree with the sentiment that has induced some writers truth- 

 fully to place their preface as written, at the end, when all the rest was complete. 

 This act of authorship is generally regarded as facetious a very mild joke certainly, 

 but a joke nevertheless. I cannot understand this : I cannot perceive why an 

 author should be ashamed or afraid to make the public confession that his valedictory 

 address was given forth after his long companionship with the reader had ceased. 

 I cannot conceive why such an obvious truism should be thought droll. Be this 

 as it may, one thing is certain : an author is held to be something less than 

 courteous who does not commend his labours to the public in some way or other, 

 even though he may have nothing to say by way of commendation: so I bow 

 to custom and commence my task. Would that I could adopt the stereo-form of 

 prefaces, and plead the pressing solicitations of a large circle of admiring friends 

 as the lever that enforced publication; but I feel that such a plea would be 

 untruthful. I have been submitted to no such pressure : I have been lifted out 

 of my normal obscurity by no such lever. Friends such as these have held aloof 

 in the coolest and most unconcerned maimer. I am left without excuse. 



First, then, I would invite attention to the fact, again noticed farther on, that I 

 had a very, very early predilection for Butterflies I may say even from my nurse's 

 arms and this taste having continued to old age, and having been indulged when- 

 ever opportunity offered, I have seen more of the little world of English Butterflies 

 than most of my compatriots. I have become familiar with Silvery Queens and 

 High Browns; have chased Dark Greens on the treacherous slopes of Cwm Elan ; 

 have revelled and rioted amongst thousands of Glanvilles on the Undercliff, where 

 that admirable and determined squatter not only established itself in prehistoric times, 

 but maintains its ground, and multiplies exceedingly ; I have made the White C 

 my especial game; I have taken Jo from her favourite thistles and teasels, have 

 watched the Purple Emperor soaring above the oaks at Darent, and have wondered 

 why he should seek realms unknown to his lady-love, his empress-queen ; and I have 

 wondered still more why a creature so gloriously refulgent with purple, should 

 condescend to feed on filth and putrefaction, instead of feasting on ambrosial pollen 

 and quaffing nectar, with Flora for his cup-bearer; I have oha&e&Acia with unusual 

 success, and have mourned over his depa^ve from the ancient dwelling-place whsre 



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