PREFACE. 
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A few words of explanation are required as to the 
reasons why the compiler of this pamphlet, a resident 
in England, should he connected with entomological 
observation in Southern Africa, and the reason is this :— 
Some time ago Mr. S. D. Bairstow, then President of 
the Eastern Province Naturalists’ Society, South Africa, 
who had, whilst resident in England, been one of my 
entomological correspondents and contributors to my 
Annual Reports on Injurious Insects, wrote to me from 
Port Elizabeth, requesting that I would procure the 
identification of the species of the Australian Bug from 
our best European authority, and also form observations 
from life, and other points relatively to measures of 
prevention of its ravages (furnished from South Africa, 
or which I was begged to procure) into a plainly-worded 
paper which might be of popular service. 
At that time, save the valuable Government Report by 
Prof. Trimen, little had been published on the subject 
in South Africa, and the researches to gain reliable 
information have involved correspondence with colleagues 
in South Africa, South Australia, North America, and 
elsewhere; and during the long time which has neces¬ 
sarily elapsed a magnificent paper, with full details 
both of the history of the insect itself and means of its 
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