234 
MODERN SYSTEM. 
Genus 310. PULEX of authors. 
Sp. 1. Pul. irritant. Body brunneous, sometimes inclined to rust co- 
lour. 
The common bed-flea is found throughout Europe. 
“ Notwithstanding the inconveniences attending this little insect, 
there is something pleasing in the appearance of the flea. Its mo- 
tions are elegant, and all its postures indicate agility. The shell 
with which it is enveloped is in a state of perpetual cleanliness, 
while the muscular power which it is capable of exerting is so ex- 
traordinary, as to excite our wonder at so much strength confined 
and concentrated within so small a space; this species being able to 
spring, on the most moderate computation, to the distance of a* 
least two hundred times its own length, and drag a tveight eight 
times heavier than itself. It has sometimes become a favourite with 
ladies, who have pleased themselves with keeping, taming, and 
feeding it. A golden chain has been made for it with a lock and 
key; and being kept in a box with wool, in a warm place, and led 
daily, it has been known to live for six years. 
“ The Pulkes of birds and of mammalia ought to be most care- 
fully examined. There arc a vast number of species which have 
been confounded with P. irntans’’ 
Order X. LEPIDOPTERA. 
Order Lepidoftera. Linn., Cuv., Lam., Latr., Leach , 
Class Glossata. Fabr. 
Characters of the Order. 
Wings four, covered with scales: tongue spiral, filiform. Linne di- 
vided this order into three genera ; viz. Papilio (butterfly), Sphi’> f 
(hawk-moth), and P/uiUna (moth), which were characterized by tb e 
form of their antenna: ; and these divisions form the three grea* 
sections of Latrcille, as follow : 
Section I. DIURNA. 
Wings four; all, or at least the superior ones, erect when the insect i* 
at rest : antenna- with their points thicker or capitate ; in a very f e " r 
somewhat setaceous, with the extreme apex hooked. The insects 
of this section, which constituted the Linaean genus Papilio, ah 
by day. Caterpillars with sixteen feet. Chrysalis naked, and geB e ' 
rally angulated. 
Earn. I. Papilionid.e. Leach , 
Papilionides. Latrcille. 
Hinder tibia with heels only at their extremities : wings all elevate 
when at rest. 
