PREFACE. 



For several years after his arrival in Java, the principal pursuits of Dr. Horsfield 

 were Botany and Materia Medica, but as numerous insects were constantly occurring to 

 him during his botanical excursions, he was naturally and almost imperceptibly led to 

 the collection of these beautiful and interesting animals. Like most other entomologists 

 he commenced his career in the science by paying attention to Lepidopterous insects, 

 to the collection of which he was the more induced by their great abundance in cer- 

 tain districts, during the latter part of the rainy season, The Coleopterous and other 

 insects, which have been deposited by him in the East-India Company's Museum, 

 were principally collected towards the end of his residence in the island, which he 

 finally quitted in 1817, on its being ceded to the Dutch. 



In the year 1812, or soon after the conquest of Java by the British arms, Dr. Horsfield' s 

 original plans were considerably enlarged, in consequence of the liberal patronage which 

 was bestowed on his researches, by the Honourable East-India Company, through the 

 friendly medium of Sir Stamford Raffles, the Lieutenant-Governor of the Island. At 

 this time Dr. Horsfield was established in an extensive plain, elevated nearly 200 feet 

 above the level of the ocean, and situated near the middle of the island, in regard both 

 to its length and breadth. This plain is highly fertile, and with very little exception, 

 is in a complete state of culture. The soil is a deep vegetable mould which, near the 

 banks of several large rivers that flow through it, is mixed with sand. Here the col- 

 lection of insects was carried on with zeal and perseverance, not only by Dr. Horsfield 

 himself, but by various native assistants, who had been properly trained to this pur- 

 suit. His attention, as may be conceived, soon extended itself to all Annulose animals 



^X. without exception, and his assistants were accordingly instructed to look for them in 



-. every situation, and as far as possible, to leave no place unexamined. During these 



v researches, therefore, the party being provided with all the usual implements of 



entomological collectors, neglected none of the ordinary resorts of insects, such as 



|\ flowers, decayed wood, carcases of dead animals, ponds, &c, and consequently, the 

 collection now in the possession of the East-India Company, may very fairly be con- 



C/ sidered as affording a general view of the entomology of the above mentioned plain. 

 When any remarkable deficiency is observed in particular natural groups, we may at 

 s least conclude, that such insects are on this plain comparatively very rare. Accord- 

 ing to Dr. Horsfield's general observation, indeed, those insects which live on plants, 



b shrubs, 





