78 EXTENT, ETC. OF THE TERM INSECT. 



insects established by Linnaeus were nearly allied amongst 

 themselves, the wingless order (Aptera) contained a mass of 

 objects haAdng the most discordant organizations, and which, 

 when properly examined, were proved to be characteristic of 

 groups of higher rank even than the mnged orders them- 

 selves. In this manner, the apterous Linnaean genera. Can- 

 cer, Monoculus, and Oniscus, were formed into the class Crus- 

 tacea J Aranea, Scorpio, Fhalangium, and Acarus, into that 

 of Arachnida ; whilst Scolopendra and lulus, as a group 

 named Myriapoda J Lepisma, and Podura, under the name of 

 Thysanura, and Pediculus under that of Anoplura, have been 

 alternately raised to the rank of classes, or regarded as orders 

 in the classes Arachnida and winged insects, to which last it 

 been proposed to restrict the name of insects. But this is 

 a step to which I would strenuously object. I would not 

 willingly be charged with veneration for the works of our 

 predecessors in science merely because they happen to be 

 old ; but I do object to the spirit of innovation which can- 

 not distinguish between what is old and what is good ; and 

 if the Linnaean group of insects is to be retained, as I sub- 

 mit that it ought to be, as one of the chief divisions of 

 animals, I would certainly retain for it the name of Insecta, 

 which so peculiarly refers to the great character of the 

 group, in preference to that of Condylopa, proposed by 

 Latreille. It may, indeed, be said, that it is not proper to 

 apply the name of insect to a crab or a lobster, but they are 

 as strictly insected animals as a bee or a beetle ; and it may 

 be said, that if we apply the name in this general manner, 

 we shall need some other name to distinguish the true w inged 

 insects from the Crustacea and Arachnida; and this it must 

 be admitted is the fact : and the question then arises, shall 

 we, in order to obviate this difficulty, throw ourselves into 

 the other dilemma, and take away the name of Insecta from 

 insected animals? I, however, sec no occasion for thi^ 



