vi PREFACE 



thanks to the generous help afforded by several well-known 

 entomologists. 



A little margin must be allowed for appearances of insects 

 in abnormal seasons, and for the differences in latitude. For 

 any errors of commission the indulgence of readers is asked. 

 The author would feel grateful if they would kindly point these 

 out, so that mistakes may be eliminated from any subsequent 

 edition, should one be called for. Owing to the life histories 

 of many rare insects being as yet imperfectly known, there 

 are many omissions. An earnest appeal is made to entomolo- 

 gists of standing to fill up these blanks as data and facts 

 become known. Such help will be gratefully acknowledged. 



Information is particularly sought respecting egg-laying 

 habits, and for actual dates of ovi-deposition and hatching ; 

 for peculiarities of larvse, and for the names of unrecorded 

 food plants ; for methods of treatment of pupae ; for pairing 

 habits, hours of emergence, etc., of imagines ; and for any 

 other hints that will tend to make the book more complete 

 and up-to-date. 



The writer's sincerest thanks are due to Mr Hartley 

 Durrant, of the British Museum, for his valuable suggestions ; 

 to Messrs B. W. Adkin, R. Adkin, F. A. Oldaker, and A. E. 

 Tonge, for supplying information on many points ; and 

 indirectly to many other entomologists for the generous 

 help given at various times over a considerable period. Also 

 to Miss Field for her help in typewriting my manuscript a 

 task which, as may be imagined, was not an easy or congenial 

 one. 



The books consulted are too many to mention in detail. 

 They include the standard works, and for the facts derived 

 therefrom, and for information obtained from the various 

 entomological magazines and other publications of a similar 

 character, the author is greatly indebted. 



A. G. SCORER. 



HlLLCREST, 



CHILWORTH, 



GUILDFORD. 



