Vi PREFACE. 



The classification presented is in accordance with recent 

 studies and the conviction that certain of the lower so-called 

 "orders" of insects, such as the " Orthoptera," " Pseudo- 

 neuroptera," are heterogeneous, unnatural groups, which 

 for the sake of clearness and truth to nature should be 

 broken up into distinct orders. The class of insects, there- 

 fore, is divided into sixteen orders instead of eight, as may 

 be seen in tabular form on p. 56, and the usual succession 

 of orders has been reversed, the book beginning with the 

 lowest, the wingless insects, and ending with the highest, 

 the Hymenoptera. This order agrees with the probable 

 mode of evolution of the class, and with the geological suc- 

 cession of insects, so far as we know it; insects like cock- 

 roaches, grasshoppers, etc., being the first to appear, those 

 with a metamorphosis, as neuroptera, beetles, flies, moths, 

 ants, and bees, succeeding them. 



In 1863 the author proposed a new classification of insects, 

 placing the Hymenoptera at the head of the insect-series, 

 the Coleoptera having, because, perhaps, from being the 

 favorites of collectors, been assigned this position. Since 

 that time it has been gratifying to see that, at the present 

 time, not only in the United States, but in England and on 

 the Continent, the Hymenoptera by general consent crown 

 the summit of the tree of insect life. 



The present scheme of classification was in part worked 

 out by the author (contrary to his early convictions or preju- 

 dices) and published in 1883, when ten orders instead of 

 eight were adopted; while it was remarked that the three 

 groups (i.e., white ants, etc., the may-flies, and the dragon- 

 flies) composing the " Pseudoneuroptera" might hereafter 

 be regarded as entitled to the rank of orders. It should 

 also be borne in mind that some of the leading entomologists, 

 as Westwood and others, had for many years regarded the 

 ear-wigs, the caddis-flies, the Thripidge, and the fleas as 

 representing distinct orders. While we were considering it 

 a debatable question whether these important types had not 

 been unwarrantably "lumped" with the older Linnasan 



