ORDER NEUROPTERA. 



35 



whole world their number may be given in round figures at about 

 4,000, but there is no doubt that this number may be considerably 

 increased. 



The largest and most handsome species are the Dragon Flies or 

 Ornoptera, one species occurring in our own country, measuring 

 fully four inches in expanse of the wings. The Lacewing FUes 

 {Hemerobiidce), the Day Flies {Ephef^ieridcs), the Stone Flies 

 {PerltdcB), and the Caddis Flies (Trichoptera)y are among the 

 other more conspicuous members of the group. 



The Neiiroptera may be divided into three great sub-divisions, 

 according to certain well-defined characteristics. The modern 



Nemoptera Extensa. 



tendency is to raise each of these sub-divisions to the rank of 

 orders. 



The Neuroptera may be classified as follows : — 

 S2ib Order i, Flanipen?tia, or true Neuroptera. 



Metamorphoses complete, larvse, mostly terrestrial. 

 Sub-Order 2, Trichoptera, or hairy- winged Neuroptera. 



Metamorphoses complete, larvee aquatic. Wings of 

 Imago clothed with hairs. 

 Stib-Order 3, Pseudo-Neuroptera, or false Neuroptera. 

 Metamorphoses incomplete. 

 The most important distinction between the first two groups 

 and the third is that the former undergo complete metamorphoses, 

 whereas in the latter the transformations are incomplete or 

 imperfect. The latter for this reason are often classified as a 

 separate order. 



