CLASS INSECTA. 25 



more than six feet, that is the Crustacea and arachnida of M. 

 de Lamark, or the insects apiropodes of M. Savigny. Al- 

 though this order was more natural than that of Linne, it 

 was not followed, and it is only in recent times, that anatomi- 

 cal observations, and the rigorous exactitude of the applica- 

 tions which have been made of them, have brought us back to 

 the natural method.* 



I divide this class into twelve orders, the first three of 

 which, composed of insects without wings, not changing 

 essentially their forms and habits, subject only either to 

 simple moultings, or a mere outline of metamorphosis which 

 increases the number of feet and rings of the body, corres- 

 pond to the order of Arachnides antennistes of M. de La- 

 mark. The organ of vision in these animals is usually only 

 an assemblage, more or less extensive, of smooth eyes, formed 

 like small grains. The following orders compose the class of 

 insects of the same naturalist. From its natural relations, 

 that of the suckers, which contains but a single genus, the 

 flea, ought to terminate the class. But as I place at the 

 head the insects which have no wings, this order, for regula- 

 rity of method, should succeed immediately to that of the 

 parasites. 



Some English naturalists have established, on the consi- 

 deration of the wings, certain new orders. But I do not see 

 the necessity of admitting them, with the exception, however, 

 of the stresiptera (twisted or crossed wings), the denomina- 

 tion of which appears to me to be vicious, and which I shall 

 call rhipiptera (fan-wings). 



* Cuvier, Tab. Elem. de I'Hist. Nat. des Anim., and Lecons d'Anat. 

 Comparee; Lamark, Systenie des Anim, sans Vertebres; Latreille, Precis 

 des Caract. Gener. des Insects, et Gener. Crust, et Insectorum. For 

 more details consult the excellent Introduction to Entomology, by 

 Messrs. Kirby and Spfince, p. 312. 



