Thorax in ivinged Insects. 149 



entomological works will be unintelligible to persons commencing the 

 science ; and our worthy author must really have the goodness to print 

 new editions, adapted to his own nomenclature, of all previous entomo- 

 logical books, before he can expect us to adopt some of his terms. For 

 my part I cannot adopt arbitrary changes, and I think I have so far a 

 right to follow my own opinion on this particular head, inasmuch as I 

 have always most strictly adhered to the anatomical nomenclature of 

 others, and in the case of a paper on the Wings of Diptera was even in- 

 duced to defer its publication, in order that Mr. Kirby's work, which was 

 understood to be about to give a complete nomenclature of parts, might not 

 be interfered with, and unnecessary trouble thereby given to the student. 

 The only use of the nomenclature of parts is as an instrument enabling us 

 to understand the structure of the animal with the least possible difficulty; 

 but this its use must cease and confusion never end, if every person is to 

 be privileged to alter received anatomical terms for the mere gratification 

 of his fancy. To change a received generic name without adequate cause 

 is mischievous enough, but how much more so to alter words used in 

 comparative description, and thus to deprive us of the power of intelli- 

 gibly comparing. 



Much of Mr. Kirby's nomenclature is, however, very good : and we can, 

 I think, recognize considerable traces of that admirable tact for observa- 

 tion which distinguished him in his " MonographiaApum Anglice." He 

 has described several parts not before named, or at least imperfectly 

 designated. When these his names are the first that have been applied 



which circumstance will perhaps be scarcely more satisfactory to those who are 

 always hunting for comparisons with the human subject, than if they were 

 placed in the insect's abdomen. The fact is, that nothing whatever has as yet 

 been proved on the subject, as the reader of Mr. Kirby's Chapter on the Senses 

 of Insects, in his fourth volume, will most readily perceive; as yet there is 

 nothing but presumption, and it is really proceeding with too great haste to 

 expect us to abandon the use of the word clypeus, while the seat of the sense 

 of smelling remains at least coram judice. But this is scarcely the place for 

 such discussion, which I shall resume at a proper opportunity. I shall only 

 say, that in any case I see not a shadow of necessity for abandoning the old 

 word clypeus. 



