PREFACE. 



Rather more than a year ago I led my readers to 

 expect a second volume (of Mr. Buckler's larvae of the 

 British Butterflies and Moths) treating of the larvae of 

 our Sphinges or Hawk-Moths. 



The present volume is rather in excess of what I 

 had then contemplated, as it includes not only the 

 larvae of nearly all our Sphinges or Hawk-Moths (the 

 only omissions being Naclia ancilla, Ghoerocampa 

 nerii, Trochilium vespiforme, and allantiforme) but also 

 the larvae of the first twenty-seven of our Bombyces. 



The larvae of the remainder of our Bombyces will 

 form the subject of a third volume, which will be issued 

 to the subscribers for the year 1888. 



The present year (1887) being required for a volume 

 on Oribatidce by Mr. A. D. Michael, necessitates a 

 break in the annual series of larvae volumes ; but I 

 may mention that the first twelve plates of Vol. Ill are 

 already on the stone, most carefully executed, like those 

 in the present volume, by Mr. F. C. Moore. 



As in the preceding volume, though the series of 

 figures left by the late Mr. Buckler was wonderfully 

 complete, of a great number he had left no descrip- 

 tions. To supply these gaps in the letterpress, the 

 Rev. John Hellins has not only exerted himself, but 



