VI PREFACE. 



fortunately, his sudden death on the 9th May, 1887, 

 when just in the very midst of his labours (when he 

 was actually receiving larvae by almost every post from 

 some of his numerous friends) compelled us to seek for 

 help in other quarters. 



This, however, we found a most difficult matter ; 

 those who had the necessary skill and capacity for 

 describing larvse lacked the time. After some anxious 

 correspondence on the subject, it was hoped a solution 

 of the difficulty had been found, and it was announced 

 in the pages of the 'Entomologist's Monthly Maga- 

 zine,' vol. xxiv, p. 20, in the obituary notice of the 

 Rev. John Hellins, that " at the earnest solicitation of 

 the Ray Society, Mr. W. H. B. Fletcher, of Fairlawn 

 House, Worthing,- Sussex, had kindly, undertaken to 

 take up the broken thread of Mr. Hellins' work." 



Since this announcement was made in June, 1887, 

 Mr. Fletcher has devoted much time and no smal] 

 amount of patience to the task, but unfortunately the 

 more he worked at the subject the more it seemed to 

 grow, and his ideas of what a complete description 

 should be developed even in a larger proportion ; so 

 that just when his MS. was expected to be ready for 

 press he found that still another year or two of obser- 

 vation was needed to render the matter which he had 

 to furnish worthy of the subject and of the reputation 

 of the Ray Society. 



In this dilemma he wrote to me to the following 



effect : 



Bersted Lodge, JBognor, Sussex ; 

 December 31st, 1888. 



My dear Sir, 



I am afraid the object of this letter will 

 not be very agreeable to you, and I am certainly sorry 



