436 INSECTA. 



Some merely experience a semimetamorphosis, the rest a com- 

 plete one; but the larvoe always have six hooked feet, which they 

 usually employ in seeking their food. 



I will divide this order into three families, which will successively 

 present to us the following natural affinities: 



1. Carnivorous Insects, subject to a semimetamorphosis, with 

 aquatic larvae. 



2. Carnivorous Insects, subject to a complete metamorphosis, 

 with aquatic or terrestrial larvae. 



3. Carnivorous or omnivorous terrestrial Insects, subject to a 

 semimetamorphosis. 



4. Herbivorous Insects, subject to a complete metamorphosis, 

 with aquatic larvae, which construct portable dwellings. 



We will end with those species in which the wings are the least 

 reticulated, and which resemble Phalsena or Tineites. 



FAMILY I. 



SUBULICORNES, Lat(l). 



The antenna? are subulate, and hardly longer than the head; they 

 are composed of seven joints at most, the last of which is setaceous. 

 The mandibles and the maxillse are completely covered by the lab- 

 rum and labium, or by the anterior and projecting extremity of the 

 head. 



The wings are always reticulated and distant, sometimes laid ho- 

 rizontally and sometimes placed perpendicularly; the inferior are as 

 large as the superior, or sometimes very small and even wanting. 

 The ordinary eyes are very large and prominent in all of them; and 

 they all have two or three ocelli situated between the former. The 

 two first periods of their life are passed in the bosom of the waters, 

 where they prey on living animals. 



The larvae and pupae which approximate in form to the perfect 

 Insect, respire by means of peculiar organs situated on the sides or 

 extremity of the abdomen. They issue from the water to undergo 

 their ultimate metamorphosis. 



( 1 ) Awl-shaped horns. 



