CHAPTER III. 



SOME ACCOUNT OF THE CHARACTERISTICS WHICH 

 DISTINGUISH THE CLASS OF CREATURES TERMED 

 INSECTS— AND THE CHARACTERS BY WHICH THEY 

 ARE SEPARATED FROM OTHER ALLIED FORMS OF 

 ANIMAL LIFE. 



O begin at the beginning, which is always, 



in reality, the shortest way to the end, it 



may be well to consider for a. moment 



jY the meaning of tbe term insect. It is 



\ directly derived from the Latin insect urn, 



7( ^ or inter sectum, a term which very fclicit 



ously describes the most conspicuous general 

 i characteristic by which these creatures are 

 distinguished, namely, the curious insection by 

 which the thorax, or fore part of the body, appears 

 nearly separated from the abdomen. In some in- 

 stances, this leading feature of insect formation is 

 so striking as not to escape the notice of the most 

 unobservant, as in the case of the common wasp, 

 for instance, or in the ant. 



The Greek word entomon expresses the same 

 idea, and, combined with logos, meaning a dis- 



