PREFACE. IX 



city of their motions, both on the earth and in the 

 air, and for the splendour and brilliancy of their 

 colours ; such, with only one or two exceptions, are 

 the Euptera, or tiger beetles. Among the higher 

 animals the lion, chief of the predaceous quadrupeds, 

 is usually accounted the king of beasts ; a similar 

 reason will justify modern Entomologists for re- 

 garding the Cicindelidse as the typical and most 

 perfect form amongst insects (especially Coleoptera), 

 instead of the Lamellicorns which Linneus has 

 elevated to that rank." 



It will be seen from the above extract, derived 

 from an able and learned work of the present day, 

 that the arguments are chiefly drawn from the ex- 

 ternal organization of insects, viz. the superior de- 

 velopement either of the manducatory organs, or 

 from the symmetry and agility of the species, or 

 from the form as well as the carnivorous habits 

 of the insects, evincing as it does an approximation 

 to the classification of the vertebrated classes of 

 creation. The precedence therefore assigned to 

 the Cicindelidse in modern arrangements, would 

 appear to arise from the adoption of the same prin- 

 ciples which it is asserted induce Naturalists to 

 place the Feline and Accipitrine tribes at the head 

 of their respective classes. Had general internal 



