Northern Entomological Society. 



5951 



between ihera distinctly punctate ; the elytra are wider and the sides more rounded ; 

 the punctured striae deeper, and the spots are generally smaller and more obscure ; the 

 antenna? have one basal joint entirely, and merely the base of some of the following 

 ones, red, whilst B. femoratum has two joints red. B. bruxellense occurs on the banks 

 of the Kibble and Morecambe Bay. B. femoratum generally distributed. 



Bemhidium lunatum is easily recognised by its large size and semilunate 

 testaceous-red spots at the apex of the elytra. Banks of Kibble. Not uncommon. 



" Bcmbidium decorum is easily distinguished by its very elongate form. Banks of 

 Kibble. Kather scarce. 



" Bemhidium stomoides. This species may be recognised by its similarity in form 

 to Stomis pumicatus, whence its name. First introduced into the British Fauna in 

 Dawson's * Geodephaga Britannica.' Locality, Cumberland. I have taken it on Ly- 

 tham Sands, and banks of Ribble. 



^'Bemhidium monticulwn. This species may be separated from any of the green 

 section by its elytra being so very much broader than the thorax, which is small in 

 proportion. Banks of the Ribble; generally distributed. 



''''Bemhidium affine. Very closely resembles B. nitidulum, but may be dis- 

 tinguished by its palpi being entirely testaceous, whereas in B. nitidulum the penulti- 

 mate joint is brown ; in B. affine all the joints of the antennae are longer, the thorax 

 shorter and more square, and the elytra broader and more rounded on the sides. 

 Kibble banks ; either scarce or overlooked. 



" Bemhidium prasinum. This species is soon distinguished from B. tibiale by the 

 striae on the elytra not being punctured, and by its much wider thorax ; the legs are 

 also wholly black. Banks of the river Ribble ; few specimens captured." 



The following paper was then read, by the Author, Mr. B. Cooke : — 



On Classification. 



" Mr. Dallas, in his ' Elements of Entomology,' after stating his reasons for the 

 adoption of the Cibarian system of classification in his work, says (p. 58), ' But, for 

 my own part, I must confess that I think the adoption of the metamorphosis as the 

 foundation of the arrangement of insects leads to a more philosophical result.' Coin- 

 ciding with Mr. Dallas in this view, the object I had in the present paper was to 

 carry out this system of arrangement, and to endeavour to show that the orders of 

 insects follow one another in a more natural and regular course than in the system of 

 classification which is founded on the structure of the mouth. 



" It struck me, however, that a short review of the subject of classification gene- 

 rally, not merely of insects but of all animated nature, would be an important step in 

 the inquiry. The object of all classifiers has been to arrive at a natural system ; and, 

 as Nature is said to be formed on a plan, it seems to me that there ought to be one 

 and the same plan throughout in the arrangement of each class of animated beings. 

 The plan which will be here advocated is simply this, — to begin with the highest de- 

 velopment, and proceed in regular gradation to the lowest ; to commence each class, 

 each order and subdivision, each family, each genus, with that animal which should 

 hold the highest rank in its respective group ; to proceed from the most powerful down 

 to the most defenceless, from the most noble to the meanest; — care being taken to 

 associate together those which have a close aflSnity throughout the various stages of 

 their existence. 



