LINN JEAN SYSTEM. INSECTS. 1 59 



were considered by the Stagyrite as forming parts only 

 of his order Tetraptera. The second is the abolition 

 of the " Pterota simul et Aptera," under which the Gre- 

 cian philosopher placed the ants and the apterous glow- 

 worms. These errors were perceived by Linnaeus, and 

 duly rectified. In regard to the Linnaean order Aptera, it 

 would be endless to enumerate the host of objections that 

 have been raised against it by almost every modern en- 

 tomologist; each having proposed a classification, which 

 has been set asideby the next writer who followed. A well- 

 known countryman of our own, Dr. Leach, has himself 

 published two or three different theories on the arrange- 

 ment of the Aptera ; and the views of MM. Kirby and 

 Macleay are totally different from these, and from each 

 other. In such a state of things, the reproach if it be 

 one that Linnaeus failed in his arrangement, is equally 

 applicable to all those who have succeeded him, with ten 

 times the materials and, consequently, the facilities 

 which were possessed by the learned Swede. Every 

 one, in fact, sees and admits that this order required 

 much subdivision ; but, unfortunately, no one has been 

 hitherto successful in doing this, upon such natural prin- 

 ciples as to satisfy any other entomologist than himself. 

 There is consequently good reason to suppose that, in all 

 these arrangements, some great error has been committed. 

 Nor is it too much to suppose that some important prin- 

 ciple of the natural system has never been correctly ap- 

 plied to the determination of the natural groups of the 

 Annulosa. On this subject, however, we feel disposed 

 at present to say but little, further than to intimate, as 

 the result of much investigation, that the greatest part of 

 the Linnaean Aptera form the principal portion of a 

 truly natural group ; which, when united to one of his 

 orders (whose affinities to it he himself perceived), will 

 constitute the natural sub-typical class of the annulose 

 circle. But as we wish not that the reader should be r [in 

 possession of our opinion alone, on a matter of so much 

 importance, let us refer him to what others have ex- 

 pressed on the Linnaean arrangement of insects. 



