Northern Entomological Society. 5955 



There are no predaceous insects among them. Their larvae differ more on the whole 

 from those of the first and second orders than the larvae of the Diptera do. The per- 

 fect insects are inferior in strength ; in the parts of the mouth, and in the legs 

 especially. 



"5. Trichoptera. In this order I propose to include the following principal 

 groups: 1. Panorpidae ; 2. Raphidiidae ; 3. Hemerohidae ; 4. Sialidae ; 5. Pliryganidae. 

 The term Trichoptera, however, is only partially applicable. Too little is known of 

 the transformations of these groups to rest satisfied in regard to their true position. 

 The pupae are said to be inactive during the greater period of their existence, 

 but some of them acquire sufficient strength, previous to their change, to creep into 

 a position suitable to effect it. 



" In reviewing the above arrangement of the five orders in this section, and taking 

 a general survey of each, there may be observed a gradation from a hard-bodied, 

 strong, and well-defended insect, to a soft-bodied, weak, and defenceless one. 



Section II. 



" With regard to the arrangement of the orders in this section, it may perhaps be 

 sufficient to say, that the first and second, the Neuroptera and Orthoptera, are mandi- 

 bulate, and the other two suctorial. The Neuroptera comprise a wide range 

 of insects ; the Libellulidae being highly predaceous, powerful and active, whilst the 

 Ephemeridae are short-lived and feeble. The order Homoptera contains several 

 families of insects having a particularly low organisation. 



" It remains now to compare the Cibarian system of classification, or that founded 

 on the structure of the mouth, which, having been adopted by our leading English 

 authors, has hitherto obtained general favour in this country. The great objection to 

 this system is, that orders are thereby separated which otherwise have a close 

 relationship. Thus, tlie Diptera are placed at a distance, more or less remote, from 

 the Hymenoptera; whilst the Hemij)tera and Homoptera are separated from the 

 Orthoptera by several orders having little relation to either ; the intervention of the 

 Lepidoplera being particularly out of place in a system aiming to be a natural one. 

 Even among the mandibulate section the Hymenoptera are removed to some distance 

 from the Coleoptera, to which they have a closer relationship than the orders that 

 intervene. 



" I will not contend that a system of classification founded on the nature of the 

 metamorphosis alone will be perfect ; but I maintain that, compared with the Cibarian 

 system, * it leads,' as Mr. Dallas says, to a more philosophical result.''' 



On the conclusion of the paper, the President was requested to leave the chair, 

 when the Rev. Henry H. Higgins was called thereto, and a vote of thanks given by 

 acclamation to the President for his valuable and interesting paper. On the 

 resumption of the chair by the President, a vote of thanks was carried to all the 

 gentlemen who had so handsomely contributed to the pleasure and instruction of the 

 members and visitors present ; and it was moved by Mr. McKeonce and seconded by 

 Mr. Cooper, that a special vote of thanks be tendered to Mr. Reading, of Plymouth, 

 for his magnificent and valuable exhibition, sent at a great risk; and to Mr. Con- 

 stantino, of Blackburn, for his kindness in exhibiting his addition to the Fauna 

 of Lancashire, &c., and for his very useful and interesting, though far too short 

 paper, on " Specific Distinctions.'' 



