8 Dr. Lichtenstein's Dtjfertaiton on two Natural Genera 



Thefe companies I divide, laftly, according to the eyes, each into two 

 parties ; of which the firfl: contains thofe with round eyes, the iecond 

 thofe with angular eyes. This apparently trifling minutenefs or pe- 

 dantry gives fo ufeful a thread to guide us to the determination of 

 each rpecies of phafma or mantis that occurs, and makes it fo eafy 

 to any one who will pay the leail: attention to inveftigate if and 

 where fuch an ii^feft has been defcribed, that 1 do not confider the 

 time and trouble as loft which I have fpent on the difcovery of 

 thefe fubtilties. True fyftematical proficients in entomology, who 

 love truth and order, will richly repay this lahorem In tenui by the 

 approbation which they may be pleafed to beftow on it. I will not 

 here attempt a prolix vindication of my having been obliged to alter 

 entirely the dcfcriptiou of the genus Matitts^ and compofe new ones 

 oiPhafnia and of Mantis^ nor of the great difference frequently to 

 be found between my defcriptions of the fpecies and thofe of Linne or 

 Fabricius. True judges will themfelvcs difcover my reafons. Such 

 as regard only authority I can afTure, that Fabricius approves of my 

 innovations. Amateurs and {harp- figh ted obfervers, who are not fond 

 of the technical and fcholafticlanguage, I refer to Stoll, whom I have 

 accurately quoted; to Fueflly's Archives^ and to the Figures which 1 

 have here given; but efpecially to natural fpecimens. Perhaps many 

 perfons will be reconciled to me on examining a weli-ftored collection, 

 who onj:hc bare reading of the following Latin defcriptions will have 

 iliaken their heads, or fecretly condemned me as an unauthorized 

 pedantic innovator. In thefe infeds the colours often deceive ; partly 

 becaufe they are frequently deflroyed by the fpirits in which the 

 ipcciraens had at firft been preferved ; partly, becaufe the hemelvtra 

 frequently become fpotted from thin drops of pus being thrown out 

 and adhering to them when they are ftuck through with pins. Hence, 

 tl'C puntla fparfa elytrorum, to which one mufl never truft, unlefs 

 chey agree prccifely on both hemelvtra. Sapiaitifat, 



ir9— 20Phasma. 



