BRITISH BEETLES, 



(COLEOPTEEA.) 



CHAPTER I. 



ON THE KELATIONS AND DIVISIONS OF THE CLASS 

 INSECTA. 



As this volume is intended solely for the use of beginners 

 in entomology, and especially those who desire to be ac- 

 quainted with the leading groups and peculiarities of 

 structure, etc., of Beetles (or Coleoptera), as exhibited 

 by our British species, it is perhaps advisable to com- 

 mence with a brief statement of the relative position in 

 the scale of creation held by the class Insecta, in which 

 the Coleoptera are usually accorded the place of honour. 

 To begin, then, at the very beginning. The Animal 

 Kingdom is divided into two great sub-kingdoms : the 

 VERTEBRATA, or animals with a spinal column (compris- 

 ing Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, and Pisces ; or Beasts, 

 Birds, Reptiles, and Fishes) ; and the INVERTEBRATA, 

 wherein the spinal column is wanting. The separation 

 is at once so decided, and apparently natural, that no 



