PLAN FOR STUDYING. 355 
Annulosa is divided, will point out the distinction of true 
insects from such as are destitute of wings ; and you will 
be in no danger of referring an apterous moth or a 
female glowworm to a wrong order. Proceed in this 
manner, gradually entering into further details as you 
approach that particular portion which you intend to 
investigate. The study of any one of the great divi- 
sions of annulose animals is ample occupation for a 
life ; and the more’ you restrict your attention to one 
department, the more will you ultimately rejoice at 
your forbearance, in not wandering over the tempting 
but boundless fields of nature. 
(437.) To discover the name of a species is the 
ultimate object which all amateurs, and many professed 
naturalists, have in view. To do this, by merely turn- 
ing over the plates of a zoological work, is manifestly a 
short and easy road to knowledge ; but the superficial 
acquaintance thus obtained, however convenient and 
useful upon many occasions, will not satisfy the true 
naturalist. Hence, he will begin by studying the com- 
position of groups, before he descends into further 
details ; and this, indeed, is inevitable, whether the 
student willingly consents or not. He finds, for instance, 
a beetle, and he wishes to know its name. He must 
therefore first ascertain to which of the great divisions 
of insects it belongs; the winged (Ptilota) or the wing- 
less (Aptera): but this is not enough, he finds there are 
several orders in each of these great divisions, and he 
is detained in his search, until he discovers to which of 
these orders his insect belongs. He finds that all such 
as have hard wing-covers come under the order Coleop- 
tera. He may possibly think his search is now draw- 
ing to a conclusion, but he will be very much deceived. 
He has to compare his insect with the characters of all 
the different tribes, families, and genera of this order. 
If, in the present paucity of good elementary books, he 
succeeds so far as to ascertain the ‘genus of his insect, 
he may consider himself very fortunate. One more trial, 
and he comes to the species. Now it is quite evident 
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