Illustrations of Exotic Entomology, Volume 2 — Key Ideas to Explore

The copy on which this edition is based was bound with the 3 volumes of text in one physical volume and the plates in another. They have been reordered into 3 separate projects with the plates inserted adjacent to the related text - other copies are known to have been bound in this fashion.

Page numbers enclosed by curly braces (example: {25}) have been incorporated to facilitate the use of the Index (in Volume III.).

Images of the original plates are available through Internet Archive. See https://archive.org/details/illustrationsofe12drur

Project Gutenberg has the other two volumes of this work. Volume I: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/47599. Volume III: see http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/47601.

UPWARDS OF SIX HUNDRED AND FIFTY

FIGURES AND DESCRIPTIONS

REMARKS AND REFLECTIONS ON THEIR NATURE AND PROPERTIES.

BROUGHT DOWN TO THE PRESENT STATE OF THE SCIENCE, WITH THE SYSTEMATIC CHARACTERS OF EACH SPECIES, SYNONYMS, INDEXES, AND OTHER ADDITIONAL MATTER.

BY J. O. WESTWOOD, F.L.S.

SOC. CÆS. NAT. CUR. MOSQ. SOC. ETC. ETC.

HENRY G. BOHN, 4, YORK STREET, COVENT GARDEN.

{iii}MR. DRURY'S PREFACE

TO THE FIRST EDITION.

To gratify a laudable curiosity, and lead the mind to the exercise of one of its noblest faculties, was the motive that first encouraged me to publish a work of this kind. How far it has answered these ends, what pleasure it has produced, of what benefit or advantage it has been to mankind, by inducing them to contemplate the admirable works of Providence, and trace its wisdom and goodness through the medium of this branch of the history of nature, are circumstances, the confined sphere of life in which I have hitherto moved, has not given me those opportunities of knowing that I could wish. But the kind reception the first volume of this work has met with, seems to justify the opinion that it has not been written in vain.

In the Preface to my former volume, I told my readers, that my design of giving an addition to that work, would entirely depend on the reception the public should be pleased to give it. I was willing to have some proof of the public approbation, before I ventured rashly to engage further in so considerable an expense as the engraving and colouring the plates, &c. which was too great for me to incur without a prospect of a reimbursement.

It is now with the utmost pleasure I can declare, that I have the greatest reason to be satisfied on that head; the world has generously encouraged my first attempt, and it is to that cause the present volume owes its appearance. The quick sale of a great number of copies, on the first publication, was a proof of the great progress natural history had made; and gave me the utmost hopes a continuation might be equally as acceptable, if conducted on the same plan, and rendered as agreeable by the exertion of the artist's abilities. I have now the satisfaction of offering a volume to the public not inferior to the first.

It is a pleasing reflection to consider the great strides natural history is making in this kingdom, as well as in other parts of the world; and the many publications on the various subjects of nature, that have made their appearance within these last three or four years, is a circumstance that must give every man of a liberal mind the greatest satisfaction. We {iv}see persons, skilled in natural history, receiving encouragements and reward from men of rank and property, according to their respective abilities. Some are encouraged to pursue their studies in foreign parts, and investigate the secrets of nature among the trees and plants; others are employed in discovering countries, and searching the shores of coasts, hitherto unknown, for subjects that will afford either profit or speculative pleasure; while the artist at home is not neglected and abandoned, but meets the reward his merit entitles him to.

Natural history has, certainly, less reason to court the favour of mankind than many other branches of knowlege; as the pursuit of it, either as a science or amusement, is so replete with pleasure, that it is hardly possible to refuse it our approbation and encouragement, so soon as we give ourselves the least time to enquire into its merits; and we are often stimulated to pursue it from the appearance of that inexhaustible store of entertainment it is sure to afford. It is therefore less to be wondered at that publications on these subjects are more numerous than formerly; as the desire of communicating knowledge and happiness is irresistible, and men, for their own sakes, will be induced to follow the tracks, where the enjoyment of unallayed pleasure lies within their grasp.