68 



The Katuealist. 



increased, another catalogue was issued by Dr. Sharp, which I believe 

 is now generally accepted by British coleopterists. It differs chiefly 

 from the preceding in the removal of the Trichopterygidce, Pselaphidae, 

 &c., from the Pseudotrimera, to positions of nearer alliance ; also in 

 the restoration of the Hydrophilidae to a nearer connexion with the 

 Dytiscidfe. The principle of the arrangement seems to my mind 

 exactly the one which I have been advocating or supporting, and T 

 ■.consider Dr. Sharp's catalogue to be a model for the arrangement of 

 all other orders of insects. If the principle is a good one as regards 

 the Coleoptera, I cannot conceive any reason why it should not be 

 carried out in the whole class. 



The arrangement of the Coleoptera may be compared to the railway 

 system : if a person wishes to travel from Chester to Southport, he 

 takes the train to Birkenhead, and he there comes to a terminus ; he 

 crosses the river in a steam-boat, and then makes his way to Tithe- 

 barn- street station, in Liverpool, where he enters upon a distinct line 

 of railway. So it is with the beetles ; when we get through the 

 Geodephaga and Hydradephaga, we come to a terminus, and then 

 change to another line, as it were, going on with the Brachelytra. 



2. Hymenoptera. — There may be a choice, in the commencement 

 of this order, between tlie ants and the wasps ; I prefer the latter, and 

 if we begin the British species with Vespa crahro, we have a fine and a 

 formidable insect to take the lead. To get into a hornet's nest is 

 proverbial ; to get into an ant's nest would be, comparatively, a weak 

 expression. 



3. DiPTERA. — In his investigations on the Hymenoptera, Westwood 

 says (Introd., vol 2, p. 81) : — "It seems to be admitted on all hands 

 that the insects, which are the real analogues of the present order 

 (Hymenoptera) exist in the dipterous order, almost every hymenopte- 

 rous group having its representative in the hatter." 



In arranging this order on the same principle as the Coleoptera, 

 there can scarcely be two opinions as to which family to begin with. 

 Walker says of the Asilid;^ Insecta Britannica — Diptera," vol. 1, 

 p. 47) — " These flies are all carnivorous, and are the most powerful 

 and generally the largest of the Diptera. They destroy Coleoptera and 

 Hymenoptera, as well as insects of their own class." 



4. Lepidoptera. — Three out 'of the four British authors before 

 mentioned commence the British species of this order with Pap 'ilio 

 MacMon\ and I believe this commencement is almost universal with 

 British lepidopterists of the present day. Here, then, we have the 



