VIII 
PREFACE. 
exceedingly rare species, or such specimens that were difficult to obtain. The object being to enable our 
readers to gain a general impression of the species in question, without regard to the purely scientific or 
systematic issue. 
In regard to the illustrations produced from actual specimens (in some plates this constitutes every 
single specimen shown) the editor trusts that fullest satifaction has been given. Our claim is that there 
is no other work in existence that excels ours in illustrations such as we have given of the Zygaenidcie, Arcti- 
anae, Sphingidae, Drepanidae etc. In order to achieve this and maintain the relatively low price, it has been 
necessary to group in some instances as many as 100 figures on plate. Whilst this may not be pleasing, it is 
purposeful as it renders t he book more handy as a book of reference. It is to be assumed that these books will 
often be taken on journeys, where every ounce of luggage weight is a consideration and the editor considered 
it his duty to bear this in mind and seek to include as much matter as possible in the most condensed space. 
However even this has been subject to criticism. 
In current literature one sometimes comes across such remarks as 1 'nothing is said in Seitz in regard 
to the underside’’, or “these markings are not mentioned in Seitz" or even that “it seems to have been 
overlooked in Seitz". Such criticisms seem to us beside the point. When one considers that some 7000 
to 8000 forms have to be dealt with in a volume of less than a thousand pages, it must be clear that 
there will not be space for detailed descriptions, such as one would have the right to expect in a publication 
or periodical that can give an author unlimited space. This especially applies to such cases, where one 
certain characteristic denotes all the members of one group. It seems superfluous to mention more than this 
one distinctive feature. Wherever illustrations are given showing most of the conspicuous details, no further 
descriptions seemed necessary in the text. 
The editor had no compunction in acting in this way because just on this account he has been able to 
carry through to completion 12 Volumes of the work (besides maintaining the parts of the uncompleted 
volumes) and this achievement has been made in spite of the prevailing unrest in the world. All previous efforts 
to publish a work embracing all the known Macrolepidoptera have failed. Not through any fault in the ability 
of the editors or publishers, nor actually through any shortcomings. Their inability to complete their task 
is to be ascribed to the lack of a definite plan. They sought to achieve too much, they considered it possible 
to issue an unlimited number of volumes, to give the greatest imaginable number of plates and illustrations, 
a project that was incapable of achievement, either financially or technically. The failure of these earlier 
attempts has been one of the chief hindrances in the success of the present work. No opportunity has been 
allowed to pass without disparaging the “Macrolepidoptera" and without referring to the fate of 
its predecessors with the prediction that a similar early end would attend our labours. Today we have the 
proud achievement of 12 completed volumes. Only a part of the Noctuidae and the three last of the six 
subfamilies of the exotic Geometridae have still to be completed. Had it not been for the decline in purchasing 
power in every country of the earth, the unfortunate state of currencies and exchanges, the closing of frontiers 
whilst Europe is being “balkanised”, the work would have been completed ere this. 
Another criticism has been, that we are reproached with having given too many illustrations. This 
set of critics asserts that the work is too much like a “picture book", that it makes things too easy, that 
insufficient stimulus is given to the study of the morphology of insects, that it encourages superficiality 
instead of the pursuit of science. As a matter of fact morphological details have been omitted, wherever it has 
been possible and where characteristics visible to the naked eye have sufficed, we have avoided giving details 
of structure and anatomy. For this reason there are no diagrams in the text and amends will be made for 
this in Volume 17, when morphology will receive particular attention. Had the specialised volumes been illus¬ 
trated in this way, such figures would have been valueless as a reference and they would not have 
complied with the general plan of the work. 
The illustration of the main volumes of this systematic work by means of natural coloured plates is 
all the more important, as it is unfortunately a fact that the interest in entomological science is decreasing 
throughout the world. It is therefore necessary to provide an easy means of classification to encourage 
younger students and collectors, who perhaps have not the facilities of visiting any of the larger Museums, 
to collect and study the fauna of foreign parts. The importance of facilities for quick classification and deter¬ 
mination of the value of specimens, the opportunities they offer for an exchange of specimens, these all are 
of value in stimulating the interest in Lepidopterologv and should not be underestimated. Compare for in¬ 
stance the lack of interest that is shown in Microlepidoptera, of which there are no books of reference and 
few illustrations available. Scarcely any collector is interested in australian or neotropical Microlepidoptera. 
These are in so little demand that professional collectors have been instructed by their dealer friends to 
abstain from collecting them, as they see no chance of disposing of same. What a state of affairs, when 
