But to proceed—He must also acknowledge, that in the Course of this Undertaking he has made use of the Drawings of some Caterpillars and Flies which were published not long ago in a curious Work of this Sort, by ~J. A. Rosel~, at ~Norimburgh~, in ~Germany~: But he has taken from him such only as are exactly of the same Species with what we have in England, though we have not yet been so fortunate to meet with them under all their several Changes: what Information that Gentleman has given, as to those Particularities concerning them which we are yet unacquainted with, he therefore judged proper to insert. As to the ~Plants~, ~Flowers~, and ~Fruits~, he declares himself under the highest Obligation to a most curious Naturalist, and worthy Member of the Royal Society of ~London~, whose costly and valuable Collection is known to the learned World, and esteemed as it deserves. This Gentleman has generously permitted him to make use of many excellent Paintings of these Subjects, which were taken from Nature by those two celebrated Artists Mr. ~George Dennis Ehret~, and Mr. ~Jacobus Van Heysum~, and executed with the utmost Judgment and Command of Pencil, so that he could hardly doubt but that true Copies of them would give great Pleasure to the Lovers of Botany, whom he has endeavoured to entertain with all the Variety he could introduce. Some Ill-natured People, that love to find Fault with every Thing, have, he hears, objected against the Liberty he has taken, in giving in several of his Plates, ~Plants~, ~Flowers~, and ~Fruits~, that are not in Reality the Food of the ~Caterpillars~ therein exhibited; but as the greatest Part of the ~Caterpillars~ described in this Work feed chiefly on the ~Oak~, ~Elm~, ~Black-Thorn~, ~White-Thorn~, ~Willow~, and ~Nettle~, all which are separately represented in different Plates, it was judged unnecessary (and would certainly have been tiresom) to repeat those Subjects, as often as different ~Caterpillars~ are presented to which they serve for Food: and therefore, instead of so doing, the Author has enriched his Undertaking with some of the most beautiful Productions of Nature in the Vegetable Kingdom: But, however, has not forgot to place the ~Caterpillars~, in most of the Plates, on a small Specimen of the real Plant on which it feeds, as will be properly explained in the Account of each Particular ~Fly~:—and this Care, it is hoped will be an Answer to all unreasonable Cavils. The ~Plates~ are all drawn and etched with his own Hand, in a quite new Manner; whereby every Design, when coloured, appears like a regular Piece of Painting; and the ~Flies~ are drawn and Painted with the utmost Exactness, from as fine and perfect Specimens as can be bred. The common Method of amusing the Reader with long Accounts of the Colours and Markings of each ~Fly~ is avoided in this Work, as entirely needless, when the Objects are truly represented before his Eyes.