PREFACE. 
I would apologize for adding to the load of useless entomo¬ 
logical literature which is now so rapidly accumulating by 
attempting to describe a group of butterflies, to elucidate 
which descriptions alone are utterly inadequate, were it not 
that I hope to figure all of them in the f Exotic Butterflies/ 
Dr. Gray, who was about to have the Hesperidce of the 
British Museum catalogued and described, generously re¬ 
linquished his intention upon my stating to him what I have 
said above, and promising him that I would undertake to 
figure them; and it is that I may keep my promise that I 
now issue (to appropriate the species) what I consider when 
unaided by figures more than worthless. 
When we have 150 species which, except in form and size, 
have scarcely any trait on the upperside by which to di¬ 
stinguish them from each other, and all possess the trans¬ 
parent spots in common, it is by .a very faithful figure alone 
that they can be satisfactorily separated. I have always 
felt, and have acted accordingly, that I should by descrip¬ 
tions only receive the anathema of future entomologists, 
whilst by a fair figure I might be entitled to their benedic¬ 
tion. Such have been my own sensations when I have 
puzzled over a vague description in vain, or have at once 
