PKEFACE. 
vii 
those few entomologists possessing the wealth and opportunities necessary, to 
the exclusion of a vast majority of able naturalists not so fortunately situated. 
The word "Entomology" conveys various meanings to its different votaries, 
but a pleasant one to all. Some entomologists form collections, whilst others 
do not. Among the former several methods are pursued: — There is the simple 
accumulator or entomological miser, who often knows but little of the subject, 
but nevertheless appears to derive much satisfaction from the possession of a 
mass of material of a certain pecuniary value but of little or no scientific use 
whatever. There is also the collector who cares nothing for specimens he 
has not taken himself or for species with whose habits he is not acquainted. 
This last class of collectors, amongst whom many artisans are to be found, 
often restrict their Avork to the fauna of their own immediate neighbourhood, 
with the result that they frequently make discoveries of the greatest interest 
concerning the habits and life-histories of local species. Other entomologists 
confine their attention to the elucidation of the more abstruse biological 
problems, such as the protective resemblance of insects to their environment, 
the effects and infiuence of climatic differences on variation, &c. 
The study of the comparative anatomy of Lepidoptera is at present attracting 
much deserved attention, and the results of this line of investigation are 
found to be of great value in extending our knowledge of the limits of both 
genera and species, but until more is known of the subject a certain amount 
of caution should be exercised in the acceptance of many of the conclusions 
arrived at. To attain anything like definite knowledge in any branch of 
Entomology a large mass of material with correct data is necessary, and, in 
the x\uthor's opinion, the most useful class of entomological worker at the 
present time is the field-collector, who not only exhibits activity and intelligence 
in his work, but carefully observes anything of interest connected with his 
captures and duly enters all such items of information in his notebook. 
