INTRODUCTION. vii 



Phasmid^. 

 A great monograph on this family has been published by 

 Brunner von Wattenwyl and J. Redtenbacher, ' Die Insekten- 

 familie der Phasmiden ' (3 parts, 4to, Leipzig, 19Q6, 1907 

 1908), which supersedes everything previously published on 

 this group. 



Phasgonurid^. 

 Dr. A. Griffini has given special attention to the great genus 

 Gryllacris, on which he has published an important series o£ 

 papers. 



The Order Orthoptera is the smallest o£ the seven great 

 Orders o£ Insects, with perhaps the exception of the Neuroptera; 

 but it contains many species of exceedingly curious forms, and 

 others of much economic importance from their numbers and 

 destructiveness. The Order has hitherto been somewhat 

 neglected, but appears likely to attract an increasing number 

 of students from year to year. 



W. F. KIRBY. 



Beitish Museum (Natural History), 

 London, S.W. 

 March, 1910. 



