PREFACE 
Tile present work is the lirst iiltenipt to deseribe iind illustriite the whole of the Butterllies of 
Australia, and to classify Ihein according to modern scientific views. It is based upon more amjile 
material than has ever been available before: earlier workers had to be content with solitary examples 
of (piitc a number of species, but we have been able to gather long series of the great majority. For 
the purjmses of this Avork Ave have examined over fifteen thousand Australian butterflies in our own two 
collections, over six thousand in the Museum collections of Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide 
and Perth, about the same number in private collections, and a A-ery great number of duplicates. 
We have not hesitated to sacrifice examples of almost every species in onr search for details of 
structure, and in this connection have also examined manj^ allied Indo-Australiaii species Avith special 
attention to types of genera. Instead of the usual minute description of the type specimen, Ave have 
essayed the much more dillicult task of draAviiig up a description applicable to the average butterfly 
of each species. 
Our records of habitat and times of appearance haA’e been as far as possible compiled from our 
own captures, but Avould not IiaA^e been nearly so numerous had Ave not been materially assisted by 
many friends. To these our thanks are due, and Ave must specially mention H. Elgner (Cape York and 
Torres Straits Islands), P. P. Dodd (Kuranda, Herberton, Townsville, DarAvin), G. ^M. Goldfinch (Ing¬ 
ham), E. P. Jones and W. IL Miskin (Rockhami3ton), Dr. T. L. Bancroft (Eidsvold), R. Illidgc and 
Dx'. A. Jetferis Tuimcr (Brisbane), G. H. Wyld (Byron Bay), R. A^onng (Richmond R.), R. J. fillyard 
(Dorrigo and Ebor), Dr. AV. E. Dridvc (AYandin anti Castlemaine), E. Jaiwis (AA andin), D. Gondic 
(Birchij) and Sea Lake), J. R. Hill (Kewell), R. E. Trobilcock (Geelong and Kerang), F. AI. Litllor 
(Launceston), H. H. Griffith (Alt. AA^ellington), 0. L. Adams (>Alt. Alagnet), AY. K. Findlay (Zeeban), 
S. Angel and F. AI. Angel (Adelaide), F. L. AYhitlock (AYilson's lidet), G. F. Berthoud (AYaroona and 
Gei’aldton), G. C. Candy (AA^ 3 mdhaixi), W. C. Roberts (Dal_y R.), F. C. Bleaser (Dai'win), C. H. A\ ick- 
ham, L. Harrison, H. AY. Davey, E. Andei*son, F. P. Spry, Dr. E. A. D’Ombrain, and J. Searle. The 
localities bracketed after each name indicate the districts fi’oni which the bulk of these labelled specimens 
I’eached us. Xor uiust we forget Air. 0. B. Lower of Broken Hill, avIio has lent us his tj'pes for 
reference: and a recent pi’olonged visit to the somewhat inaccessible Claudie R. b3' Air. J. A. Kei’sliaAv, 
Avhich is I'esponsible for the man3’ records from that spot. 
Until quite recently the butterflies of West Australia have been very much neglected; great 
difficulty has been expei'ieiiced in seeuxung specimens froixx that State. Thanks to the effoxts of 
Alessx-s. Berthoud and AYhitlock a considerable numhor of records have latety been obtained, and 
Alessrs. R. E. Turner and R. lllidge have i*ecently visited S.W. Australia and haA'e shown us all 
their labelled specimens. The AA^est Austi'alian Aluseum has giA*eii us a list of the laigei buttexflies 
in the Perth collection, and sent ns the smaller ones for examination, and the South Australian 
Aluseum has allowed us to examine the butterflies recently collected in Y.AY. Australia by Air. A\. 
Dodd. 
AVe liave to thank the Queensland Aluseum for the loan of Aliskin's types, and avc have had 
free access to the collections of the Alacleay and the Australian Alnseums of Sydney and the 
Xational Aluseum of Alelbouvnc. The collection gathered by Air. R. E. Turner daring a residence 
of fifteen years at Alackay is in our possession and has furnished many accurate records from Xorth 
Queensland. Of our personal recoi’ds, G. A. AVaterhouse is responsible for the great bulk of those 
