PREFACE. 



THE want of uniformity in the pronunciation of scien- 

 tific names, and the consequent difficulty of communica- 

 tion between the less -educated, but often more practical, 

 men of science, is an admitted evil. To afford a remedy, 

 so far as Lepidopterology is concerned, and for the 

 especial use and benefit of those to whom circumstances 

 have denied the advantage of a classical education, while 

 their inborn love of Natural History has led them to 

 the study of this Order of Insects, we have published 

 " An Accentuated List of the British Lepidoptera." 



It has been urged upon us that we ought to have 

 given all the synonymic names. Undoubtedly the in- 

 vestigation of synonyms is an important part of the 

 work of those who undertake the labour of classification, 

 but it does not come within the scope of our present 

 intention. Our aim is only to effect a uniform, and, 

 as far as may be, a correct, pronunciation of a Nomencla- 

 ture already established by competent authority. For 

 synonyms we refer to Doubleday's " List," and Stainton's 

 " Lep. Britann. Tineina," from which our series of names 

 is principally derived. To Mr. Doubleday our warmest 

 thanks are due, for his kindness in supplying us with a 

 MS. copy of a considerable portion of his forthcoming 

 Catalogue, 



