PRE FA CE, 



during i his publication is :l ciiOTHUrtance that cannot bo too warmly acknowledged. Not only 

 have I received many specimens direct from Mr. Biggs, but that veteran naturalist, Mr. P. H. 

 Gosse, — who I am happy to say is still living, and naturally still working, at Torquay, — also 

 placed in my hands the specimens he had previously received from Malacca through the 

 same instrumentality, Mr. Durnford proved a tower of strength at Sungei Ujong, whilst 

 Messrs. J* K. Birch and W. Egerton sent me several species not hitherto known to form 

 part of the fauna. Herr Kiinstler has made large collections at Perak for various ento- 

 mologists, and I have had the fortune to examine a considerable portion of these through the 

 kindness of Dr, John Anderson, of the Indian Museum, Calcutta, Herr Ribbe, of Dresden,* 

 and Herr Georg Semper, of Altona, whilst Herr E. Honrath, of Berlin, has afforded 

 me much information as to similar eousi^umciits. To Dr. Staudinger, of Dresden, I am 

 indebted for the examination of a most valuable and interesting Malaecan collection, which 

 contained many new species, whilst the collections and advice of Mr* F. Moore and Messrs. 

 Godman and Salvin have been freely at my service* Mr, L* de Niceville, of Calcutta, 

 has found time — with his many engagements — to give me much kindly help, which has 

 been thoroughly appreciated ; whilst both Mr, W, F. Kirby and Mr, A. G* Butler have given 

 me any assistance I required at the British Museum, the first-named having also contributed 

 the General Index to this volume. To my artist, Mr* Horace Knight, thanks are also due for 

 the careful way — regardless of trouble — in which he has drawn the figures, and without which 

 the results of chromo- lithography would have been much less satisfactory. 



The preparation of this publication has been the pleasure — in the scant leisure — ^f a busy 

 man of other occupations during the last few years, commenced during ill health which 

 threatened a speedy termination of all such undertakings, but which he is thankful to say has 

 been removed. It has recalled again the scenes of other days, and reawakened that burning 

 love of Nature which the tropics implant in the mind of any naturalist, and which tends to 

 prove that hu also belougeth to that order of things which is capable of endless modification, 

 but which change th not. 



+ My attention hue just been directed to a paper published in the "Berliner EiitamologiKche Zeiwehrift' for 1S85 

 (p. St&ff), in which Herr C. Plotz has described several species of Hctptriida collected by Kiinfitler " auf Malacca (Pemk)," 

 ijinl ulmrh nre contained in thn collection of Herr liibbo. I am, however, to my regret, ijuite unable la identify these by the 

 abort descriptions given, and incline to the opinion that in some cases synonymy has been created. 



