# File lib/cidr.rb, line 288
    def <(cidr)
        if (!cidr.kind_of?(NetAddr::CIDR))
            begin
                cidr = NetAddr::CIDR.create(cidr)
            rescue Exception => error
                raise ArgumentError, "Provided argument raised the following " +
                                     "errors: #{error}"
            end
        end

        if (cidr.version != @version)
            raise VersionError, "Attempted to compare a version #{cidr.version} CIDR " +
                                 "with a version #{@version} CIDR."
        end

        # compare
        lt = false
        lt = true if ( NetAddr.cidr_gt_lt(self,cidr) == -1)

        return(lt)
    end