44 0BSEXVATI0N5 OX THE DITFEKENT 



adopts in all his works, and which was almost peculiar to himself, 



that he excelled. 

 The following are the definitions of the several Orders established 



by this eminent naturalist. 



Order I. Coi.eoptera (derived from the Greek words for a shcnth and 

 a uino) comprise those insects wliich have crustaceous elytra or 

 shells, which shut together and form a longitudinal suture down the 

 back, as in beetles. 



Order II. IIemiptera (from /(«//" and a rtv\§). Insects having their upper 

 wings half crustaceous and half membranaceous, not divided by a 

 longitudinal suture, but incumbent on each other, as in grasshop- 

 pers, tSf".' 



Order lit. Lepidopteua (from a scale and a 7ci)ig). Insects with four 

 wings covered with fine scales in the form of powder or meal, as iu 

 the hutterflt/ and moth. 



Order IV. Neuroptera (from a nene and a 7cing). In this order the 

 wind's are four; membranaceous, transparent, and naked, reticulated 

 with veins or nerves; the tail is without a sting, as in the Libellula 

 or Dragon-fly. 



Order V. IIymenoptera (from a w?effi6rawe and a wing). The insects of 

 this order have also four wings, and the tail furnished with a sting 

 for various purposes, as in wasps, bees, t^r. 



Order VI. Diptera (from two and a wing). Those insects with two 

 win2;sonly, and poisers or lialancers, as in the common House-Jly. 



Order VD Aptera (from without and a zcing). In this order Linne 

 placed the spider, crab, scorpions, &c. As these are now universally 

 rejected from insects, and referred to a class named Crustacea, I shall 

 hereafter speak of them when mentioning the system proposed by 

 Dr. Leach. 



Fabricius distributes all insects into thirteen Classes, the characters 



of which are as follow : 



Class I. Eleutherata. Jaws bare, free, and bearing feelers. 



Class II. Uloxata. Jaws covered by an obtuse mouth-piece. 



Class III. Syxistata, J«rfs elbowed near the base, and connected to 

 the lower lip. 



Glass IV. PiEZATA. Jaws horny, compressed, and usually elongated. 



Class V. Odonata. Jazcs horny, dentated; palpi two. 



Class VI. Mitosata. Jfm's horny, vaulted ; no palpi. 



Class VII. Unogata. Jaws horny, unguiculated. 



Class VIII. PolVgnata. Jaws several (usually tsvo), within the lip. 



Class IX. Kleistagnatha. Jaws several outside the lip. 



Class X. Exociinata. Jazcs several, outside the lip, and covered by the 

 palpi. 



Class XI. Gloss ATA. Mouth composed of a spiral tongue, situated be- 

 tween two palpi. 



