I.— INTRODUCTION. 



1. — PEEFATORY NOTE. 



THIS magazine has been established by Mr. J. J. Joicey for the 

 purpose of giving to the entomological world the results of 

 studies carried out at the Hill Museum, Witley. As the title 

 of the magazine indicates, these studies deal solely with Lepidoptera. 

 The collections at the Hill Museum have increased so largely, and the 

 work on them is assuming such proportions, that it is felt we should 

 have our own publication to deal with the results. 



It is proposed that this journal be issued half-yearly, but more 

 frequent publication may be possible should there be a sufficient 

 number of subscribers. 



In presenting the first number to our fellow lepidopterists, some 

 account will be needed of the Hill Museum and its activities, and also 

 of the principles adopted by us in Lepidopterology and of the methods 

 employed. 



2.— THE GEOWTH OF THE HILL MUSEUM. 



The Museum was built by Mr. J. J. Joicey to house his increasing 

 collections of exotic and British Lepidoptera. Mr. Joicey's interest in 

 collecting these insects dates from 1906, and since this time he has been 

 indefatigable in adding new forms to the collection. The celebrated 

 collection of the late Henley Grose-Smith was purchased in 1910, and 

 this was followed in 1912 by the purchase of the very extensive and 

 widely-celebrated collection formed by the late Herbert Druce. These 

 collections made it necessary to have a special building, and this was 

 opened in 1913. About this time the Suffert collection was purchased, 

 and also most of the types of species described by Wichgraf. There 

 was also added a mass of material sent home from North Peru by 

 Mr. A. E. Pratt, who, with his son Felix, made a collecting expedition 

 on behalf of Mr. Joicey during 1912. They traversed a little-known 

 part of North Peru, crossed the Andes, and descended the Amazon. 

 These two intrepid collectors went out to Dutch New Guinea for 

 Mr. Joicey in 1913, being joined by Mr. Pratt's younger son Charles. 



