Stephens's British Entomology, 461 



lication of every work which is calculated to extend them, by 

 pointing out subjects of observation, and thus leading the in- 

 quisitive and the curious from the known to the unknown in 

 the productions of nature. Mr. Stephens's book is eminently 

 calculated to effect that purpose in many respects, though its 

 extensive plan, and the elegant manner in which it is got up, 

 render it by necessity too expensive for very general circula- 

 tion. In the two volumes now before us, the author has 

 furnished us with the best (in numerous instances with the 

 only) account which has hitherto been given of our native in- 

 sects, and as he has not copied his descriptions from books, 

 but given the result of his personal observations upon the spe- 

 cimens in his own rich, if not unrivalled, cabinet, the confidence 

 of the student in the author's accuracy is thereby strongly 

 corroborated. 



The author follows the two leading divisions of insects pro- 

 posed by Clairville, namely Mandibuldta, comprehending insects 

 furnished with mandibles, or jaws ; and Haustelldta^ compre- 

 hending insects furnished with haiistella, or suckers. These 

 he divides into orders, and subdivides into sections, sub-sec- 

 tions, families, genera, species, and varieties. As his orders 

 are somewhat different from those hitherto proposed, and 

 withal more distinctly characterised, we shall take the liberty 

 of giving in English what the author has put down in Latin 

 in his tabular sketches. It may be remarked that he is an 

 advocate for the circular system of Macleay, though he does not 

 follow his quinary divisions; the septenary (as he appears to 

 think) being more suited to his orders. The following num- 

 bers, therefore, are supposed to return reciprocally into one 

 another. 



I. Mandibula^ta (with jaws). 



2. Strepsiptera. — The upper wings more or less coria-' 

 ceous ; the under wings contorted ; as in Xenos. 



S, Coleoptera. — The upper wings more or less coriaceous ; 

 the under wings not contorted, but transversely plicatile; the 

 nervures simple ; as in Carabus, the garden beetle. 



4. Dermdptera, — The upper wings more or less coria- 

 ceous ; the under wings not contorted, but transversely plica- 

 tile ; the nervures radiated ; as in Forf icula, the earwig. 



5. Orthoptera. — The upper wings more or less coriaceous ; 

 the under wings not contorted, but longitudinally plicate; as 

 in Blatta, the cockroach. 



6. Neuroptera. — All the wings membranaceous and reticu- 

 late ; as in Libellula, the dragon-fly. 



7. Trichoptera, — All the wings membranaceous, venose, 

 and hairy ; as in Phryganea. 



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