NOTES ON ENTOMOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION. Ji48 



peculiarities. This, I think, may be taken as one of the most 

 forcible arguments in favour of a general classification, whose 

 genera should embrace species from all parts of the world. 



The adoption of such a system as I have indicated above 

 would unquestionably be a matter of great difficulty, but I am 

 satisfied that the time will come when something of the kind will 

 have to be done. It needs but a slight retrospective glance to see 

 how very much more complicated the classification of insects is 

 now than it was a few years back ; and when we reflect that there 

 is nothing to prevent every entomologist from subdividing his 

 own favourite little group to an almost unlimited extent, I think 

 the necessity of some method of generalisation on broad principles 

 will be obvious to everyone. 



For purposes of every -day reference the genus is clearly the 

 most important division, because in conjunction with the specific 

 it is that by which the individual is always referred to, the two 

 together forming in fact the " surname " and " christian name " 

 respectively.* It therefore appears that the object to be aimed 

 at is the extension of genera. This being done, the families must, 

 of necessity, also become extended ; and I think the following 

 rules would be useful in classifying on this basis : — 



The divisions subordinate to the order to consist of only three 

 kinds, — families, genera, and species. 



No genus to be constructed unless its members have several 

 important attributes in common during all their stages. 



The families would, of course, consist of a series of these 

 genera, bound together by more important characteristics in 

 common. 



The highest object of entomological classification is to unite 

 allied species in groups, in order to give a concise view of the 

 great class Insecta, a result that can never be attained by 

 endless subdividing; but even this systematic arrangement, 

 however useful, cannot surely be regarded as the ultimate result 

 of entomological research, as would in fact appear from the 

 amount of attention at present bestowed upon it. 



* It certainly seems a most unfortunate mishap that in biological classification 

 the term " family " is applied to a group of genera or races. Were the terms 

 transposed it would certainly seem more in accordance with common sense, but this 

 of course is a reform that it is beyond the scope of entomologists or any other 

 depnrtinental naturalists to attempt. 



