This volume is a further contribution towards a descriptive Catalogue of the Insect Types in the Hunterian Collection at Glasgow University.

As stated in the Introduction to Part I, the special interest and importance of Dr William Hunter's Collection of Insects is due to the fact that many of the specimens are the types of insect species founded by J. C. Fabricius, Antoine G. Olivier, Dru Drury and other early entomologists. Therefore it seemed advisable to publish descriptions together with figures of these valuable types and thus make them more accessible for purposes of systematic entomology.

The usefulness of such work has been questioned by one authority, mainly on the ground of defective examples; it has, however, been appreciated by others, notably and in a very understanding way by Dr Walther Horn, Director of the Institute of Entomology, Berlin. He emphasized that ‘it is more important to give good descriptions and serviceable illustrations for the future than to continue for ever keeping the historical things sacred and thereby to a great extent “bolting the door” against Science’.

Whatever view may be held as to the value of this publication, it has apparently proved serviceable to specialists, judging from the interest shown in the first published part; it has made known to them the whereabouts of several types and the descriptions of these have helped them to clear up points at issue and settle questions of identity to their satisfaction.

It is a pleasant duty to acknowledge especial indebtedness and express my thanks to the Carnegie Trustees for again awarding a special grant towards the cost of production, and to the Publications Standing Committee of Glasgow University for similar substantial assistance as formerly to ensure the publication of this second volume.

I also desire to thank Professor Edward Hindle for his promotive approbation of this Catalogue, initiated by his predecessor in the Chair, Emeritus Professor Sir John Graham Kerr, to whom I feel grateful for his continued interest.