1 74 JO URNAL, BOMB A Y NA TVRA L HIS TOR Y SOCIETY, Vol. X V. 



The class is divided into Orders, of which, following Dr. Sharp's 8 

 classification, we shall consider nine here. It will be seen that the 

 classification of insects into the different Orders depends upon the- 

 nature of the wings and mouth parts present. The following are the 

 Orders which will be considered in these papers, with a few of their 

 chief characters : — 



1. Aptera (* without, * T tpi* awing — wingless' 2 insects); mouth 

 mandibulate (biting) or very imperfectly suctorial. Metamorphosis 

 incomplete. Includes the so-called Fish-insects. 



2. Orthoptera (opQos straight, vnplv a wing — straight-winged). 

 Four wings are present, the front pair being coriaceous (leather-like) 

 usually smaller than the other pair, which are of more delicate 

 texture, and shut up in repose after the manner of a fan. Mouth 

 mandibulate. Metamorphosis incomplete. (Includes earwigs, cock-- 

 roaches, mantis, stick insects, locusts, grasshoppers, crickets.) 



3. Neuroptera (nvpov nerve, vripiv a wing — net-winged). Four 

 wings of membranous consistency, frequently with much net-work 

 in them ; the front pair very little, if at all, harder than the other 

 pair; the latter with but little or no fan-like action in closing. 

 Mouth mandibulate. Metamorphosis incomplete. (Includes white 

 ants, lace-winged flies, ant-lions.) 



4. Hymenoptera (v^i,v membrane, »rtpi» awing — joined-winged). 

 Four wings of membranous consistency ; the front pair larger than 

 the hind, which are always small and do not fold up in repose. 

 Mouth mandibulate, sometimes provided also with a tubular pro- 

 boscis. Metamorphosis complete. (Includes ichneumons, flies, ants, 

 bees, wasps, &c.) 



5. Coleoptera (xoxeo* sheath, » Ti p» a wing — sheath-winged).. 

 Four wings, the upper pair shell-like in consistency, and forming 

 cases which meet together over the back in an accurate line of union 

 so as to entirely lose a wing-like appearance, and to conceal the 

 delicate membranous hind pair. Mouth mandibulate. Metamor- 

 phosis complete. (Beetles.) 



6. Lepidoptera ( x £ * / $ scale, »n f o» a wing — scale- winged). Four 

 large wings, covered with scales. Mouth suctorial. Metamorphosis 

 complete. (Butterflies and moths.) 



1. Sharp Camb. Nat. Hist. Insects, Pt. I, p. 172 (Vol. V). 



2. It must not be supposed that all wingless insecta fall within the limits of this 

 Order. 



