, i., 



ON ENTOMOLOGY. 



Herture. 



The numerous beings comprehended under the name of insects, offer 

 to our regard so many interesting objects of contemplation and research, 

 that their history has deservedly assumed a prominent place among the 

 natural sciences ; although not to be compared with many other animals 

 in direct utility to man, they are by no means destitute even of the 

 interest produced by that consideration, while they possess advantages 

 as a subject of study and investigation equal to any other branch of 

 zoology. Such is the extent of the subject and the variety of aspects 

 in which it may be viewed, that minds of very different tastes and 

 capacities may find congenial occupation in some one or other of its 

 numerous details ; even to the fine assortment of its colours, every 

 thing seems on purpose to please the eye of man ; each tribe of this 

 extensive class of animals possesses peculiar attributes deserving of 

 our regard. The extreme beauty of the ( Lepidoptera) or Butterflies, 

 the striking contrast they present in the dilferent stages of their 

 existence so remarkable, as to have -caused them to be regarded by a 

 mystical philosophy, as the types of the luman soul released from 

 its material incumbrance ; their habits and times of appearance, the 

 one suggesting tlie purity of an ethereal nature, the other associa- 

 ting them in the mind of the observer, with the beauty of external 

 nature, and the genial influence of the seasons, have alike contributed 

 to render them objects of general favour. 



LINNJEVS has divided insects into seven orders : 1st. the CO- 

 LEOPTERA they are such as have crustaceous shells, which shut 

 together and form a longitudinal suture down the back of the insect, 

 as the Stag Beetle. 2nd. HEMIPTERA have their upper wings, 

 usually half crustaceous and half membraneous, not divided by a 

 longitudinal suture, but incumbent on each other, as the (Cimex) or 

 Field Btig. 3rd. LEPIDOPTERA are insects having four wings 

 covered with fine scales, in the form of powder, as in the Butterfly. 

 4th. NEUROPTERA have four membraneous transparent naked 

 wings, generally like net-work, as the Dragon Fly. 5th. HYMENOP- 

 TERA are insects with four membraneous wings, tail furnished with a 

 sting, as in the Bee. 6th. DIPTERA are such as have only two 

 wings and poisers, as the Fly. 7th. APTERA having no wings. This 

 last division contains Scorpions, Spiders, &c. 



