306 ORDER I. COLEOPTERA. 



such as beetles, moths, flies, bees, and wasps, by which 

 they are known to us. To enumerate the immense variety, 

 therefore, of genera and species, would be in a great 

 measure useless to the juvenile reader. It will be suffi- 

 cient, on this account, to exhibit a summary view of the 

 different orders ; and notice some of the most remark- 

 able insects under each, with their respective haunts or 

 habitations. 



The class of insects is divided into seven orders, viz. 



1. COLEOPTERA, or insects having four wings ; the two 

 superior ones being crustaceous, and furnished with a 

 straight suture. 



2. HEMIPTERA ; insects smaller than the preceding, 

 with four wings ; the two superior semi-crustaceous, and 

 incumbent, (that is, the interior edges lying one upon the 

 other.) 



3. LEPIDOPTERA ; insects with four wings, all of them 

 imbricated with scales. 



4. NEUROPTERA ; insects having four wings, interwoven 

 with veins like a piece of network, and no sting. 



5. HYMENOPTERA ; insects agreeing in their character- 

 istics with the preceding, excepting that these are armed 

 with a sting. 



6. DIPTERA ; insects having two wings, and two clavated 

 halteres (or balances) behind each. 



7. APTERA ; insects destitute of wings. * 



ORDER I. COLEOPTERA. 



THE distinguishing character of coleopterous insects is, 

 that they have four wings ; the two superior ones being 

 crustaceous, and furnished with a straight suture. 



Many of these (as the chaffer, the leather-eater, and the 



* These definitions should be committed to memory. 



