LINNZ AN SYSTEM. — INSECTS. 159 
were considered by the Stagyrite as forming parts only 
of his order Tetraptera. The second is the abolition 
of the ** Pterota simul et Aptera,”’ under which the Gre- 
cian philosopher placed the ants and the apterous glow- 
worms. These errors were perceived by Linneus, and 
duly rectified. In regard to the Linnean order Aptera, it 
would be endless to enumerate the host of objections that 
have been raised against it by almost every modern en- 
tomologist; each having proposed a classification, which 
has been set asideby the next writer who followed. A well- 
known countryman of our own, Dr. Leach, has himself 
published two or three different theories on the arrange- 
ment of the Aptera ; and the views of MM. Kirby and 
Macleay are totally different from these, and from each 
other. In such astate of things, the reproach —if it be 
~ one—that Linneus failed in his arrangement, is equally 
applicable to all those who have succeeded him, with ten 
times the materials and, consequently, the facilities 
which were possessed by the learned Swede. Every 
one, in fact, sees and admits that this order required 
much subdivision ; but, unfortunately, no one has been 
hitherto successful in doing this, upon such natural prin- 
ciples as to satisfy any other entomologist than himself, 
There is consequently good reason to suppose that, in all 
these arrangements, some great error has been committed. 
Nor is it too much to suppose that some important prin- 
ciple of the natural system has never been correctly ap- 
plied to the determination of the natural groups of the 
Annulosa. On this subject, however, we feel disposed 
at present to say but little, further than to intimate, as 
the result of much investigation, that the greatest part of 
the Linnean Aptera form the principal portion of a 
truly natural group ; which, when united to one of his 
orders (whose affinities to it he himself perceived), will 
constitute the natural sub-typical class of the annulose 
circle. But as we wish not that the reader should be’in 
possession of our opinion alone, on a matter of so much 
importance, let us refer him to what others have ex- 
pressed on the Linnean arrangement of insects. 
