476* EXTERNAL ANATOMY OF INSECTS. 



term, which, in my idea, prove that it is much more to 

 the purpose than clypeus. This last word was originally 

 applied by Linne in a metaphorical sense to the ample 

 covering of the head of the Scarabaidce, and the thoracic 

 shield of Silpha, Cassida, Lampyris, and Blatta : in all 

 which cases there was a propriety in the figurative use 

 of it, because of the resemblance of the parts so illustrated 

 to a shield. But when Fabricius (though he sometimes 

 employs the term, as Linne did, merely for illustration,) 

 admitted it into his orismological table, as a term to re- 

 present universally the anterior part of the face of insects 

 to which the labrum is attached (though in some cases 

 he designates the labrum itself by this name), it became 

 extremely inappropriate ; since in every case, except that 

 of the Scarabceida:, the part has no pretension to be 

 called a shield ; — so that the term is rather calculated to 

 mislead than illustrate. This impropriety seems at length 

 to have struck M. Latreille, since in a late essay a he has 

 changed the name of this part to Epistomis, a term signi- 

 fying the part above the mouth. But there are reasons, 

 exclusive of those hereafter to be produced concerning 

 the sense of smell, which seem to me to prove that nasus 

 is a preferable term; not to mention its claim of priority, 

 as having been used to signify this part a century ago b . 

 When we come to consider the terms for the other parts 

 of the head, as lips, jatvs, tongue, eyes, temples, cheeks, 

 forehead, &c. the concinnity, if I may so speak, and haiv 

 mony of our technical language, seem to require that the 

 part analogous in point of situation to the nose of ver-te- 



* Organisat. Exter. des Ins. 196. 



b In the Transactiom of the Royal Society, this part in Anobium 

 tessellatum is so called, xxxiii. 159 — . 



