north of the Gulf of Mexico and the Rio Grande. Most of these are figured in 

 "The Butterfly Book." In this manual two hundred and fifty-five species and 

 varieties are depicted in their natural colors. They are mainly the commoner 

 forms, which occur in the more densely inhabited parts of the United States and 

 Canada. I have, however, included numerous forms from the Southern States, 

 and not a few of the more showy species from the Pacific Coast. 



In some cases only half of the insect is shown. "Half a loaf is better than no 

 bread." In some cases only one side of the wings is delineated. Usually this is 

 sufficient for identification. The inhabitants of this earth have never seen but one 

 side of the moon, but they know it when they see it, unless they be like the tipsy 

 pair, one of whom said to the other, who was leaning against a lamp post, "Friend, 

 is that the moon, or a lamp?" and who received the reply: "Don't ask me, I'm a 

 stranger myself in these parts." By showing only one half, or one side, of a species 

 I have been able to illustrate many more than I could otherwise have done. 



The figures of some of the larger species have been slightly reduced to accom- 

 modate them to the page, but as the natural size is always given in the description 

 the student need not be perplexed. 



The author hopes that his readers will have as much pleasure in studying the 

 winged fairies of the woods and the fields as he has had in preparing this small 

 pocket guide for their assistance. 



8 



