PREFACE. 



As the whole scheme and scope of the work of which the present 

 volume is the first instalment is fully explained in tlie Introduction, 

 very little is required from me by way of preface. 



It may be easily understood that the publication of a monograph 

 of a group like the Lepidoptera Phalcencr,, containing such an 

 enormous number of species, already known, or likely to be dis- 

 covered during the progress of the work, is an undertaking of very 

 considerable magnitude, but it is one which, if successfully accom- 

 plished, will be of proportionate value to the systematic zoologist. 



The Trustees of the British Museum believe that the work has 

 been undertaken under conditions which are as favourable as 

 possible. The author, Sir George Hampson, has already shown, in 

 his ' Handbook of the Moths of British India,' his capacity for 

 treating the subject in a manner likely to produce confidence in 

 his methods ; he has under his hands in the Museum a collection 

 already of exceptional richness, and rapidly increasing, and, what 

 is of the greatest importance, he is in friendly relations with all 

 the other workers at the group in various parts of the world. 



The strict regulation of the British Museum which does not 

 allow of unique specimens being under any circumstances sent 

 away from the establishment, though on the whole salutary as 

 regards the preservation and ultimate accessibility of type specimens, 

 has undoubtedly its disadvantages in relation to the interchange of 

 facilities for examination ; but it is gratifying to be able to report 

 to how great an extent these disadvantages have been overcome, 

 thanks to the courtesy of so many entomologists which it is now my 

 privilege to acknowledge. 



Owing to the kind way in which everyone appealed to has 

 responded to the request for assistance, and the great amount of 

 trouble they have been willing to take in forwarding material 

 from their collections required for examination, a very large propor- 

 tion of types of the species described have been examined whilst 

 preparing the volume, as will be seen by looking through the text. 



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