380 



CHAPTER XV, 



SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENTS OF INSECTS. 



WHEN we consider that the number of known spe- 

 cies of British insects alone amounts to more than 

 ten thousand, being about six times more than the 

 species of our plants that is, six species of insects, 

 on an average, to each species of plant it will be 

 obvious that, in a collection of specimens, some sys- 

 tematic order of arrangement will be requisite ; 

 though, for purposes of out-door study of manners 

 and economy, nice distinctions are less indispen- 

 sable, as appears from the beautiful and successful 

 researches of Reaumur, Gould, Lyonnet, Bonnet, 

 the Hubers, and other distinguished inquirers, who 

 paid little or no attention to the minutiae of clas- 

 sification. In consequence, however, of a course 

 diametrically opposite having been pursued by other 

 naturalists of celebrity, we consider it our duty to 

 warn our readers against the error of considering 

 arrangement the sole end and aim of study ; whereas 

 the correct view of the matter, as we understand it, 

 is not to neglect or discard system, as was done by 

 Reaumur arid Bonnet, but to make it subservient to 

 such details of causes, motives, and effects, as we 

 have endeavoured to exemplify. In every page of 

 these volumes we have accordingly kept systematic 

 distinctions closely, though subordinately, in view. 

 We shall now give a brief sketch of several classifica- 

 tions of insects, invented by celebrated writers, from 

 the earliest times. 



