PLAN OF THE WORK. 
Trut the task is performed by some person more 
competent than I can have any pretensions to be, this 
little volume is intended to assist those who study 
insects philosophically, in ascertaining the species of our 
native butterflies and moths; while it may be useful 
also to those employed in the subordinate pursuits of 
making collections either for profit, or as innocent and 
pretty toys. 
In order to render the descriptions plain, I have 
avoided as much as possible the use of terms not intel- 
ligible to a general reader, deeming it an outrage upon 
common sense, to invite a student to a museum filled 
with the most beautiful productions of Creative Wisdom, 
and at the same time taking some pains to fill the rooms 
with smoke before he is introduced, with set purpose to 
blind him and cause him to stumble. Though this may 
appear preposterous enough, it has long been the pre- 
vailing fashion, particularly in Natural History, which 
was in consequence for many years rendered unpopu- 
lar, and has been thrown immeasurably behind in the 
