44 
OBSERVATIONS ON THE DIFFERENT 
adopts in all his works, and which was almost peculiar to himself 
that he excelled. 
The following are the definitions of the several Orders established 
by tins eminent naturalist. 
Order I. Coi.eoptera (derived from the Greek words for a sheath and 
a wing) comprise those insects which have crustaccous elytra of 
shells, which shut together and form a longitudinal suture down the 
back, as in beetles. 
Order II. Hesiiptera (from half and arcing). Insectshaving theiruppd 
wings half crustaceous and half membranaceous, not divided by * 
longitudinal suture, but incumbent on each other, as in grasshop- 
pers, <§-c. 
Order III. Lepidoptf.ra (from a scale and a wing). Insects with four 
wings covered with line scales in the form of powder or meal, as in 
the butterfly and moth. 
Order IV. Neuroptera (from a nerve and a wing). In this order the 
wings are four; membranaceous, transparent, and naked, reticulated 
with veins or nerves; the tail is without a sting, as in the Libellulti 
or Dragon-fly. 
Order v . IIymenoptera (irom a membrane and a wing). The insects of 
this order have also four wings, and the tail furnished with a sting 
for various purposes, as in wasps, bees, $c. 
Order VI. Diptera (from two and a wing). Those insects with two 
wings only, and poisers or balancers, as in the common House-Jly. 
Order VI. Aptera (from without and a wing). In tins order Linne 
placed the spider, crab, scorpions, &c. As these are now universally 
rejected from insects, and referred to a class named Crustacea, I shall 
hereafter speak of them when mentioning the system proposed by 
Dr. Leach. 
Fabricius distributes all insects into thirteen Classes, the characters 
of which are as follow: 
Class I. F.j.eutuerata. Jaws bare, free, and bearing feelers. 
Class 11 . Ulonata. Jaws covered by au obtuse mouth-piece. 
Class III. Svnistata. Jazes elbowed near the base, and connected to 
the lower lip. 
Class IV. Pif.zata. Jaws horny, compressed, and usually elongated. 
Class V. Odonata. Jazes horny, dentated; palpi two. 
Class VI. Mitosata. Jaws horny, vaulted; no palpi. 
Class VII. Unooata. Jaws horny, unguiculated. 
Class VIII. Polygnata. Jaws .several (usually two), within the lip. 
Class IX. Rleistagnatha. Jaws several outside the lip. 
Class X. Exochnata. Jaws several, outside the lip, and covered by the 
palpi. 
Class XI. Glossata. Mouth composed of a spiral tongue, situated be- 
tween two palpi. 
