PREFACE. 



A DESIRE to extend the knowledge of, and by so doing to extend 

 the love for, those sunny creatures called Butterflies, has prompted 

 the author to undertake this little work, which, though making no 

 pretence to a technically scientific character, will, it is hoped, be 

 found sufficiently complete and accurate to supply all information 

 needful to the young entomologist as to the names, appearance^ 

 habits, localities, &c. of all our British Butterflies, together with e 

 general history of butterfly life the mode of capture, preservation, 

 and arrangement in cabinets the apparatus required, &c. At the 

 same time it is so inexpensive as to be accessible to every schoolboy. 



The subject is one which has formed the delight and study of the 

 author from early boyhood, and butterfly-hunting still preserves 

 its fascinations, redoubling the pleasure of the country ramble in 

 summer. 



Should this volume be the means of inciting some to seek this 

 source of healthful enjoyment, and to join in the peaceful study 

 which may be so easily pursued by all dwellers in the country, it 

 will have succeeded in its purpose. 



The whole of the illustrative portraits of the 'butterflies have been 

 drawn from nature by the author, and with one exception from 

 specimens in his own collection. At least one figure of each species 

 (of the natural size) is given ; but in very many instances, where 

 the sexes differ considerably from each other, both are figured, and 

 the under sides are also frequently added. 



The greater number of the caterpillars and chrysalides, however, 

 being rarely met with, the figures on the first plate are nearly all 

 borrowed from the splendid and accurate works of Continental 

 authors chiefly from Hubner and Duponchel. 



With great pleasure, the author here acknowledges his obligations 

 for many biographical facts relating to butterflies, to those highly 

 useful periodicals, the Zoologist and the Entomologist's Weekly In- 

 telligencer, the former devoted to general natural history, the latter 

 especially to entomology, and whose pages register a mass of in- 

 teresting and original communications from correspondents, who, 

 living in wide-spread localities, and possessing varied opportunities 

 of observation, have gradually brought together, under able editor- 

 ship, a store of facts that could never have come within the personal 

 experience of any one man, however industrious and observant. 



The capture during the past year of a new and interesting butterfly 

 for the first time in this country, is recorded in this volume, in 

 which the insect is also figured and described. 



BAYSWATER, April, 1860. 



