Vlll PREFACE. 



largely of its treasures, for Mr. Birchall has evinced throughout the work a desire to 

 afford the most cordial co-operation. 



Mr. Wellman, Mr. Fenn, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Machin, and others have most kindly 

 lent me specimens to figure when requested ; and I believe I have in no instance 

 omitted to acknowledge in its proper place the assistance I have thus received : should 

 any such omission be discovered, I trust that it will be forgiven, for it can have no 

 other cause than mere inadvertence. 



To Mr. Thomas Huckett, formerly an assistant in my office, I was indebted fdr 

 an unceasing supply of those caterpillars which I described month after month in 

 the pages of the Zoologist. I cannot overstate the value of his zeal and energy; they 

 were only equalled by his intimate knowledge of the species he procured. 



From Mr. Wright also I have often received the same kind of help in this 

 investigation of caterpillars ; and I may truly say I have never met with an 

 entomologist who managed them with greater skill or more unquestionable success. 



To M. Guenee's volumes on Geometers and Noctuas I am under the greatest 

 obligation ; without free access to these fountains of Moth lore, my labours would 

 have been very imperfect. 



In conclusion, let me remind my younger friends and fellow-students in this 

 interesting science, that individual exertion will never suffice for the formation of even 

 a moderately good collection. Let them assiduously help one another : let them 

 offer their duplicates and make known their wants through the Entomologist, which 

 is published by Messrs. Simpkin, Marshall, & Co. for this especial purpose ; but let 

 them avoid bargain-making. If an entomologist gives liberally he will be sure to 

 meet with a .liberal return. 



And now, after a most agreeable companionship of so many months, I must take 

 leave of my subscribers, trusting to meet them hereafter in the monthly issues of the 

 British Butterflies. Until then, I wish them every happiness and every success in a 

 pursuit which, unlike many of our human avocations, has no alloy. 



EDWARD NEWMAN. 

 YORK GROVE, PECKHAM. 

 1 June, 1869 



