ADVERTISEMENT
A b o c t four years since, the Author published an Epitome o f the Insects o f China, precisely
in the same form, and nearly on the same plan, as those o f India, which are now submitted
to the public. O f the encouragement he experienced on th at occasion it might be highly
improper to speak with confidence a t this moment, lest the sincerity o f his motives should be
misconceived. W h e th e r he is entitled to expect the like degree o f countenance as before,
must rest alone with the candid reader to decide. For his own p art he will be content to
say, th at the favourable reception which the Epitome o f the Insects o f China met with, was
an irresistible inducement with the Author to undertake a similar illustration o f the Insects
of In d ia ; and th at whatever may liave been ultimately his success, he has n o t been less solicitous
to render it, in every respect, as interesting and complete as the former work.
Various arguments might be adduced in behalf o f the present publication, to one o f which
we cannot refrain adverting. I t becomes our peculiar province a t this time to awaken the
public curiosity to a subject o f no mean im p o rtan c e ; we are about to consider with attention,
the entomological productions o f a country for which we ought to cherish the liveliest
and deepest interest, as being connected intimately with the prosperity, tlie dignity, and
honour o f the British empire in a w'ord, o f British India, tliat invaluable portion o f territorial
domains so long retained in our possession, and finally confirmed to us by tlie brilliant
career o f glory th at has so recently crowned the exertions o f British valour in tlie eastern
world. No t th at the Author can be disposed to attach any greater degree o f consequence to
the subject o f Indian Entomology in particular, than it may really merit, from tlie contemplation
o f events o f sucli vast political magnitude as those alluded to : he is only inclined
to entertain the opinion, th at a work professedly treating upon tlie Natural History o f a
country, in wliich, as a nation, we have such an immediate interest, will not be th ought destitute
o f some legitimate claim to public protection. Further s till; he must believe tliat a
work which, from the ex ten t o f its design and style o f embellishments, is calculated to display
the Entomology o f India to advantage, will n o t prove unacceptable ; and as no attempt lias
been hitherto made to elucidate this beautiful tribe o f creatures in a similar manner, th at tlie
present work may become hereafter o f some utility a t least, to many individuals who reside in
India, as well as to the naturalist in this country.
Th a t the Epitome of Indian Insects is not entirely confined to tliose found in such parts of
In d ia as are in tlie British possession should be clearly stated, since it embraces, on the contrary,
the most choice selection possible o f those which inliabit every oilier p art o f tliat vast
continent, and also the islands situated in the Indian seas. The lar greater number o f insects
included in tliis selection, are described and figured from specimens in the cabinet o f the
Author, th at were originally collected by the late Duchess o f Portland, Mr. Tunstal, Governor
Holford, many years resident in India, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Keate, Mr. Yeats, and Mr. Bailey.