INTfiODtrCTIOIf. V 



much more attractive than those smaller species, whose mark- 

 ings and differences were often not distinguishable to the naked 

 eye. In consequence of this, much more is known of these 

 larger species or Macro-Lepidoptera than of the Micros. The 

 investigations of recent years have altered the views of lepi- 

 dopterists on many points, and especially has the division into 

 Macro- and Micro-Lepidoptera been considered untenable, but it 

 is still a convenient division and not likely to be abandoned in 

 practice by the bulk of collectors, and the present volume 

 contains those groups known as Macro-Lepidoptera. Following 

 Stainton's '^ Manual " it contains the local species included in 

 the first volume of that work, and in the Geometrina, with the 

 addition of a few species transferred by more modern writers 

 from other groups. 



It is very far from creditable that naturalists generally, and 

 especially British lepidopterists, cannot agree upon the order 

 in which the objects of their study should be arranged, nor yet 

 as to the names by which they should be known. This is not 

 the place to discuss the question, nor for the writer to air 

 any vagaries of his own. To do so here would only tend 

 to increase the confusion that unfortunately already obtains. 

 This want of agreement made it necessary that some 

 standard work should be followed in both these respects 

 in the catalogue. The late Mr. Howse was very anxious 

 that we should follow Stainton's ''Manual," which is very 

 much the best work for a beginner that has yet appeared. I 

 was of opinion that Stainton's "Manual," which has been 

 published nearly fifty years, was rather behind the times, and 

 much as I deplore purposeless change, I preferred to follow the 

 more modern work of our greatest British lepidopterist, Mr. 

 C. G. Barrett, in his "Lepidoptera of the British Isles," then 

 (and yet) appearing in monthly parts and annual volumes. 

 Very reluctantly Mr. Howse yielded to my wishes, but, slowly 

 as my copy was prepared for the printer, we overtook and 

 passed Mr. Barrett's work before we reached the end of the 

 !N'octu8e. Mr. Barrett was good enough to supply me with the 

 order in which the remainder of the species followed in his 



