DEFINITION OF THE TERM INSECT. 41 



nished with elytra, wings, antennae, legs, and every other 

 organ usually found in the order it belongs to, is abso- 

 lutely not bigger than the full stop that closes this period. 

 In several other coleopterous genera there are also very 

 minute species, as in Cryptophagus, Anisotoma, Agaihidi- 

 um, &c. I know no orthopterous insect that can be called 

 extremely minute, except that remarkable one found on 

 the Continent in the nests of ants, the Blatta Acervorum 

 of Panzer", but now called, I believe, Myrmecophilus : 

 nor indeed any in the Hemiptera, Neuroptera, and Di- 

 piera.) that approach the extreme limits of visibility : bat 

 in the Lepidoptera, the pygmy Tinea occultella is almost 

 invisible except in flight, being scarcely thicker than 

 a horse's hair, and proportionably short ; indeed, many 

 others of those lovely Lilliputians, the subcutaneous Tinece, 

 decorated with bands of gold and silver, and studded 

 with gems and pearls, that in larger species would dazzle 

 the beholder's eye, are in size not much more conspicu- 

 ous. In the Hymenoptera order, Ichneumon Punctum of 

 Dr. Shaw, which forms so striking a contrast to his giant 

 Phasma dilatatum, being placed together in the same 

 plate; and another that I possess, under the trivial name 

 of Atomos, would elude the searching eye of the ento- 

 mologist unless when moving upon glass. Linne named 

 the tribe of parasites to which these belong, Minuti, 

 on account of their generally diminutive size. But 

 these little minims, under the superintendence of Pro- 

 vidence, are amongst the greatest benefactors of the 



sufficiently distinguished from them and every other insect by its 

 singular capillary wings. In my cabinet it stands under the name of 

 Trichopteryx K. 



a Panz. Fn. Germ. Init. Ixii. 24. Comp. Hor. Entomolog. Addenda, 

 &c. 523. 



