10 
BRITISH BEETLES. 
their possession of domestic animals, and even, in 
some cases, of slaves, it must be admitted that they 
have a fair claim to rank next to man in the scale of 
intelligence it must, however, be remembered that 
the highest type of a group is often far more developed 
than many of the lower examples of the next above it, 
and that nature never works in a continuous or even 
line ; hence the fact that all classification must be 
more or less provisional and artificial. 
With regard to the classification of the Insecta, the 
student is referred to the valuable article on “ Insects ” 
by Mr. McLachlan in the edition of the “ Encyclopedia 
Britannica ” which has just been completed; the 
section is divided by him as follows : — 
Metamorphoses complete 
{Metahula). 
COLEOPTBRA. 
Hymenoptera. 
C Diptera Genuina. 
Diptera . < Pupipara. 
(. Aphaniptera. 
Lepidoptera. 
Vneuroptera ( Trkhoptera 
l Plampennui. 
Metamorphoses incom 
plete (Hemimetahola). 
Ortiioptera 
Hemipteea 
Pseudo-Neuroptera. 
Neuroptera Genuina. 
Ileteroptera. 
ITomopte.ra. 
No metamorphoses 
(Aberrant Insecta). 
Collejiboi.a. 
Thysanuka. 
In a work like the present it is of course impossible 
to discuss these at length, but two or three of the 
leading characters may perhaps in each case be 
pointed out. 
Coleoptera. Wings four, under pair often aborted, 
