48 PARTIAL ORISMOLOGY. 



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IV. THE INSECT IN ITS PERFECT STATE (Imago}. 



65. 



An insect, when it quits its pupa case, is called PERFECT (imago, 

 insectum dedaratum, perfectum). Upon observing it more closely, 

 we immediately detect several divisions of the body, which have 

 become now more distinctly separated than they were in the earlier 

 stages of its existence. Henceforward we always observe three chief 

 divisions, which are called HEAD (caput), THORAX (thorax), and 

 ABDOMEN (abdomen). We will now take these parts consecutively, 

 but prievously insert an observation or two upon the name of these 

 creatures. 



It is from this division of the insect body that the various names 

 which have been applied by naturalists for the designation of the 

 class, are deduced. Aristotle, the most ancient of all, called insects 

 "Evrofj.a, which word is derived from ivre^veiv, to cut in. His 

 name, therefore, very evidently refers to the divided body of these 

 creatures. The Roman writers followed the example of this great 

 man, and called our favourites Insecta, derived from insecare, which 

 likewise signifies, to cut in. This name was adopted by all authors, and 

 Linne introduced it among the systematic names of animals, whence'it 

 has passed into almost all the living languages. The Germans have 

 also long used the word, insect ; but Oken, latterly, when he sketched 

 his German nomenclature for all natural bodies, called insects Kerfe, a 

 word which has doubtlessly the same signification, he having derived it 

 as we surmise, we conceive correctly, from Kerben, to notch, or indent. 

 Other German writers, as Carus, Wagler, Burmeister, &c. have adopted 

 Oken's term, as having in fact the great merit of being of genuine 

 German extraction, and which at the same time equally well preserves 

 the advantage of a designation expressive of the predominant character 

 of the class.* 



* We retain this latter paragraph, which has rather a German than an English interest, 

 in deference to the opinion of a very distinguished man. But it may be of use, from the 

 German language having now become so prevalent and important a study, to explain a 

 term which has not yet found its way into the dictionaries, and which, possibly, every 

 writer may not think it necessary to illustrate when employing it. TR. 



