SYSTEM OF INSECTS. 377 



now consider them separately, and conclude with giving 

 my sentiments as to which should be placed first. 



* ORDERS in which the ordinary Trophi all occur, or the 

 Mouth is perfect a . (Mandibulata.) 



1. CoLEOPTERA 5 (Eleutherata F.). Aristotle may be 

 called the founder of this Order, since he both named 

 and defined it c . Both his name and definition were 

 adopted by Linne; and the former (with the exception 

 of Fabricius and his school) by all succeeding Entomo- 

 logists. To his definition Wings in a sheath d , other 

 characters have been added ; as the folding of the wings, 

 and the straight suture by which the elytra are united c . 

 Aristotle's character, though to be found in the great 

 majority of the Order, is not universal, since there are 

 some beetles that have neither wings nor sheath, as the 

 female glow-worm ; and many that though they have the 

 sheath have no wings, as Meloe, many Carabi, &c. To 

 the transverse folding of the wings there are also excep- 

 tions ; as in Buprestis, Molorchus> &c. The straight su- 

 ture by which one elytrum exactly coincides with the 

 other without lapping over, fails in Meloe : so that no one 

 of these characters can be called universal in the Order ; 

 but as an exception or two does not invalidate a rule, 

 and these are sufficiently universal for the purpose of 

 pointing it out, they may be retained* Perhaps it will 

 be an improvement to add the kind of the metamorphosis, 

 which, as far as known, prevails universally. 



a VOL. III. p. 417. b Derived from xoXsoj, a sheath, and 



nregov, a wing. c Hist. Animal. I. iv. c. 7. I. v. c. 20. 



rt Oaot TO TtTtQQV f%fl fV XOAfAJ. ' Latr. Gen. Cl'tut. et 



Ins. i. 1C!). Oliv. Ins. i. Introd. v. 



