100 
INTRODUCTION. 
life and enjoyment. But mth far the larger propor- 
tion, night is the chosen and appropriate season of 
activity. During the day they conceal themselves 
in clefts of trees, among tangled vegetation and 
under leaves, and seldom issue from their retreats 
till the light is beginning to fail. Some are on the 
wing only in the earlier part of the night, others 
are later in appearing, and continue their flight till 
the morning is far advanced. During these ex- 
cursions, many fall a prey to b.ats and night-birds 
of various kinds, which delight to capture their 
insect food when on the wing, seldom searching for 
it when at rest, according to the general practice of 
their day-feeding companions. 
The great beauty of many of these insects, the 
almost infinite variety of their colours and markings, 
as well as their curious habits and economy, have 
long rendered this a favourite branch of study with 
the generality of Ihitomologists. A large proportion 
of the works relating to insects, especially works 
of the illustrated class, are devoted to the elucida- 
tion of this tribe ; and in almost every collection of 
indigenous specimens, they occupy a prominent 
place. The zeal with which the rarer and more 
beautiful kinds h.ive been sought after, and the 
estimation in which they have been held when 
obtained, is sufficiently evinced by the high-soimd- 
ing names, by’ means of which collectors have 
attempted to express their admiration. Such de- 
signations as the Emperor, Nonpareil, Kentish 
Glory, Richmond Beauty, &c. have been appUed to 
