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THE EDITOR'S ALPHABET OF INSECTS* 



The first edition of the " Alphabet of Insects," though more 

 comprehensive than any other elementary work in English, did not 

 contain several particulars, which were omitted for fear of swelling- the 

 size and increasing the price of the book. Many of these omissions 

 have been supplied in the present edition, in consequence of the pro- 

 prietors finding that the extensive demand would remunerate them for 

 the additional expense ; and on the same principle, a number of new 

 engravings have been introduced, chiefly from the splendid work of M. 

 Straus Durckheim on the Anatomy of the Cockchafer, published at the 

 expense of the French Institute. As many of our readers who possess 

 the first edition may not meet with this, and may not be aware of the 

 important additions, we shall here give an extract, as a specimen of a 

 work which we sanguinely hope will be of no inconsiderable use to 

 those who are beginning the study, as well as serve to show those who 

 are advanced what is doing by our neighbours on the Continent. 



" Foot-combs and foot-brushes of insects. — Most people may 

 have remarked, that flies are ever and anon brushing their feet upon one 

 another to rub off the dirt, and equally assiduous in cleaning their eyes, 

 head, and corselet with their fore legs, while they brush their wings 

 with their hind legs. In the foot of the common blow-fly there are 

 two rounded combs, the inner surface of which is covered with down, 

 forming a fine brush ; and some crane flies have three such combs on 

 each foot. Mr. Biackwall denies that what are here termed combs 

 exist, as they are represented by Bauer, on the edge of the membrane 

 of the flies' foot, and says, the appearance of this is caused by minute 

 short hairs. But though I should be more disposed to trust so cele- 

 brated a microscopical observer as Bauer, yet it is of little moment to 

 the office of a comb, which I have here ascribed to the foot, whether it 

 is hairs or serratures. I have also observed the water measurer clean 

 its feet, though not by crossing them like the fly, but merely by wiping 

 them upon one another. 



"In the case of the large green locustf , the structure of the instrument 

 is more obvious ; and it being important to keep the soles of its feet 



* Alphabet of Insects, for the use of Beginners. 2d edition, revised, with 

 numerous additions. London, 1834. 



f In Latin, Acrida viridissima. 



