14 
But why, it may be asked, use Latin and Greek, why not use English 
Firstly, because English is not spoken in all parts of the globe, while Latin and 
Greek are the universal lauguages of the learned in all countries, and secondly, 
because the very nature of these languages particularly adapts them for the pur- 
pose. In Natural History it is frequently necessary to distinguish very different 
and very approximate forms, and it is of the greatest importance that the differ- 
ence perceptible to the eye should be explained by precise terms in a concise 
and readily understood language, and Latin has been unanimously chosen by 
scientific men. When, however, as is occasionally the case, that tongue is 
deficient in a characteristic expression, the example of the early writers is 
followed and application is made to the Greek, which, from the euphony of its. 
words and the fullness of it tones, is well adapted to the construction of perma- 
nent names of orders and genera. 
There has been great difference of opinion among entomologists as to what 
orders in the animal world the class INSECTA should include, and perhaps even 
more upon the division of these orders into sub-orders. As Dr. Packard’s 
“ Guide to the Study ef Insects” is the only manual we have here, it will be well 
to follow the plan there presented in drawing a short sketch of the class. 
Insects are divided into three orders :— 
1. Hexapopa,’or true insects, which have six legs, and attain the perfect 
state, in which they generally possess wings, through a series of stages of existence, 
or metamorphoses, known by the names of the egg, the larva or caterpillar, the 
pupa or chrysalis, and the imago or perfect insect. Upon examining the body of 
a perfect insect, it will be seen that the portions of the boly are more distinctly 
separated than they were during its earlier stages and that now the segments of 
the body are collected into three chief regions,—the head, the thorax, and the 
abdomeu. It is from this division of the body that the word insect is derived. 
Aristotle called insects entoma, from entemnein = to cut in, and the Roman writers,. 
following him, called them insecta, from insecare, which also means to cut m, and 
this name has been adcpted by all later authors. 
2. ARACHNIDA, or spiders, wnich have the segments of the body grouped 
intv two regions, and have eight legs, but no wings; they pass through no 
metamorphoses, but grow by frequent moultings of the skin. 
3. Myrtapopa, or centipedes, which have the body worm-like, without 
wings, and the segments not grouped into regions (exvept in the newly hatched 
young), have no metamorphoses, and grow by the development of additional 
rings to the body. 
We will turn our attention to the first of these orders. The true insects. 
are divided up into seven sub- »rders, according to the structure of their wings, 
and these again are grouped together into two series, according to their relative 
a. oe | Pee 
