PREFATORY NOTE. 
only of all insects, but of the whole organic world, as registers of subtle and elusive change, by 
means of which forms are slowly becoming different from what they have been in the past.” 
Butterflies, too, are a very ancient Order of insects, fossil butterflies recognized as referable 
to existing genera, having been found in early Tertiary formations, showing that even then these 
insects were highly specialised. 
Many apparently imported butterflies have occurred in Hongkong in recent years ; it may 
be that, owing to the vast increase of shipping and rapid transit between remote countries, be¬ 
ginning about the middle of the last century and always extending, the facilities for distribution 
of species will be increased largely. Some insects, not finding suitable foodplants or climatic 
conditions, will remain accidental visitors only ; others will no doubt become naturalized and flourish 
here. The botanic gardens now established in many places may perhaps account for the presence 
of some unexpected species, which find there sufficient food for a limited number of individuals,, 
perhaps for many years, or until the larvae have begun to feed on some indigenous plant. 
I have to thank Messrs. Dunn and Tutcher of the Botanic Gardens at Hongkong, for 
naming all the foodplants of larvae and correcting the botanical references taken from Bentham’s 
“ Flora LLonghongensis some of which required revision, as that valuable work was published 
over thirty years ago. Commander Walker’s “ Preliminary List of Butterflies of Hongkong ” 
in the Trans. Ent. Soc. of Lond. for 1895 has been of great assistance. Dr. Gomes da Silva of 
Macao kindly lent several specimens for figuring, and Mr. Heron of the Brit. Mus. identified 
several species. 
I am specially indebted to Professor Poulton, F.R.S., who identified most of the butter¬ 
flies; and his notes and suggestions from a correspondence for which, though hard pressed, he was 
good enough to spare the time, are included in the following pages. Through Professor Poulton 
I am indebted to Dr. Dixey for the arrangement of the Pieridce and to Mr. Druce for that of the 
Lyccenidce and Hesperiidce. 
As the number of species described is the result of some seven years collecting, the species 
new to this list which are sure to be added by degrees will probably scarcely affect the generic 
features, here presented, of the butterfly fauna found on a wide strip of coast extending from Hainan to 
the Chusan Islands. It may perhaps be thought that too much space is devoted to the very common 
insects, but these are really more important than the butterflies which are rarely seen, partly because 
they add infinite life and charm to the country, and partly because they are generally of more value 
in elucidating many most interesting questions concerning the past history of the earth. 
J. C. K. 
Macao, October, 1905. 
