DEFINITION OF THE TERM INSECT. 39 
In looking over the table, and comparing the different 
species that compose it with each other, you will perceive 
that the largest insects of the two sections of Hemiptera, 
of the Lepidoptera as to their body merely, of the Hy- 
menoptera and Diptera, in general size fall considerably 
short of those of the cther orders; and that certain in- 
dividuals of the Orthoptera and Aptera bear away the 
palm in this respect from all the rest. In the Coleoptera 
the giants, with the exception of the Goliathz, are chiefly 
to be found amongst the timber devourers in the Lamel- 
licorn and Capricorn tribes. Of orthopterous insects the 
Phasmina present the most striking examples of magni- 
tude; and in the Neuroptera, the Agrionide of great 
length. ; 
It is worthy of remark here, that although the tropical 
species of a genus usually exceed those of colder climates 
in size, the Gryllotalpa of Brazil is very considerably 
smalier than that of Europe: whether this is the case 
with the rest of the cricket tribe I have not had an op- 
portunity of ascertaining. The Lepidoptera, though often 
remarkable for the vast expansion of their “ sail-broad 
vans,” if you consider only their bodies, never attain to 
gigantic bulk. Even the hawk-moths (Sphinz L.), though 
usually very robust, make no approach to the size of 
the great beetles, or the length of some of the spectres 
(Phasma) and dragon-flies (Agrionide). With regard 
to the superficial contents of their wings, a considerable 
difference obtains in different species where they expand 
to the same leneth—for the secondary wings are some- 
times smaller than the primary, and sometimes they equal 
them in size. In some instances, also, the latter although 
long are narrow, and in others they are nearly as wide 
as long: regard, therefore, should be had to their ex- 
