PREFACE 



This book gives a comprehensive and concise account of 

 insects. Though planned primarily for the student, it is in- 

 tended also for the general reader. 



The book was written in an effort to meet the growing 

 demand for a biological treatment of entomology. 



The existence of several excellent works on the classification 

 of insects (notably Comstock's Manual, Kellogg's American 

 Insects and Sharp's Insects) has enabled the author to omit 

 the multitudinous details of classification and to introduce 

 much material that hitherto has not appeared in text-books. 



As a rule, only the commonest kinds of insects are referred 

 to in the text, in order that the reader may easily use the text 

 as a guide to personal observation. 



All the illustrations have been prepared by the author, and 

 such as have been copied from other works are duly credited. 



To Dr. S. A. Forbes the author is especially indebted for 

 the use of literature, specimens and drawings belonging to the 

 Illinois State Laboratory of Natural History. 



Permission to copy several illustrations from Government 

 publications was received from Dr. L. O. Howard, Chief of 

 the Bureau of Entomology; Dr. C. Hart Merriam, Chief of 

 the Division of Biological Survey, and Dr. Charles D. Walcott, 

 Director of the U. S. Geological Survey. Several desired 

 books were obtained from F. M. Webster, of the Bureau of 

 Entomology. 



Acknowledgments for the use of figures .are due also to 

 Dr. E. P. Felt, State Entomologist of New York ; Dr. E. A. 

 Birge, Director of the Wisconsin Geological and Natural His- 

 tory Survey; Prof. E. L. Mark and Prof: Roland Thaxter, 

 of Harvard University; Prof. J. H. Comstock of Cornell Uni- 

 versity; Prof. C. W. \Yoodworth of the University of Cali- 



