Classification. 29 



Next }-ear (1886), Packard ]jublished in the Aiiicricau 

 Naturalist'^ a somewhat similar scheme. He makes 

 sixteen orders, our Nciiroptera being distributed amongst 

 six, as follows : 



1. Plat}-ptera (=Termitidce and Alallophaga). 



2. Odonata. 



3. Plectoptera (= Ephemcrida.'). 



4. Xeuroptera (net-veined insects, with metamor- 



phosis complete). 



5. Alecaptera {= Panorpid;^). 



6. Trichoptera. 



So distinct are the Odonata, e\en from their nearest 

 allies — the Ephcvicridcc — that it seems almost ne- 

 cessary" to give them ordinate rank, whether all 

 of the numerous sub-divisions of the Xeuroptera sug- 

 gested b}- Brauer and Packard are finalh' adopted 

 or not. 



The Odonata ma}- be described as : Insects loith 

 incomplete metamorphosis, possessim^ no real pupal stage, 

 and undergoing a great change at the final eedysis. The 

 nynph is aquatic. The imagines have large eyes, small 

 bristle-like anteiuuc, head ivith great capability of nuwe- 

 moit, and a lon^ body. The four ivings are more or less 

 equal and transparent, -loith the main nerz'ures longitudinal^ 

 crossed by numerous transverse nervures, forming an 

 intricate meshivork of cells. The ivings are quite posterior 

 to the legs. 



* American Naturalist, xx., 1886. 



