PREFACE. 



AMONGST the numerous works published on Ento- 

 mology, it appeared to the author that there was none 

 which gave, in a popular and readable form, an outline 

 of the principal groups into which Insects are usually 

 divided. It was with the object of filling up this gap 

 in our Entomological literature that the present little 

 book was written. 



The plan which the author laid down for himself 

 at starting, and to which he has endeavoured to 

 adhere closely throughout, consisted in passing lightly 

 over the surface of the subject, avoiding details as 

 much as was consistent with giving a true picture of 

 the principal phenomena of Insect life ; and with the 

 view of bringing the subject home to his readers as 

 closely as possible, he has always endeavoured to 

 select, as examples of each group, those common 

 insects which occur almost everywhere. In some 

 cases possibly he may have referred to species which 

 are less abundant, but for one instance in which this 

 has happened, he might cite many in which he has 



