86 ENTOMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



Group /. TJie Old Greek and Roman Writers. 



It is more than probable that the common knowledge of every 

 day insects, even with the most ancient races, was almost as 

 full and trustworthy as it is with the generality of people of our 

 own day, if we except certain fanciful ideas as to origin, habits, 

 etc., which for that matter are even now not at all uncommon. 



The figures and sculptures of insects on the monuments of 

 ancient Egypt, as shown by Latreille, indicate a considerable 

 familiarity with this class of animals, and in the Scriptures all 



of comparison, and in connection therewith is introduced the grouping of 

 authors by Kirby and Spence as illustrating chiefly the origin and growth 

 of the accepted systematic arrangement of insects. Burmeister's group 

 ing of the writers on Entomology is essentially by subjects and not of 

 much service for my purpose. He uses practically but two periods: (i) 

 writings prior to Linnd (beginning with the i6th century), and (2) writ 

 ings subsequent to Linne, with many subject subdivisions. The arrange 

 ment suggested by me might be modified in accordance with some of the 

 features suggested by these other systems, perhaps with improvement, 

 but as it suits my present purpose I have let it remain as originally given. 



Lacordaire's Classification. 



I. From the oldest writings to the Renaissance period of Aristotle. 

 II. From the end of the I5th to the middle of the iyth centuries 

 period of Gesner. 



III. From the middle of the iyth century to 1735 period of Swam- 



merdam. 



IV. From 1735 to 1775 period of Linne. 

 V. From 1775 to 1798 period of Fabricius. 



VI. From 1798 to 1815 period of Latreille. 

 VII. " Periode actuelle " (1815-40). 



Classification of Kirby and Spence. 



1. The era of the ancients. 



2. The era of the revival of the science after the darkness of the middle 



ages. 



3. The era of Swammerdam and Ray, or of the Metamorphic system. 



4. The era of Linne, or of the Alary system. 



5. The era of Fabricius, or of the Maxillary system. 



6. The era of Latreille, or of the Eclectic system. 



7. The era of MacLeay, or of the Quinary system. 



