CONCLUSION. 
155 
insect is, the Strepsipteron has certain characters in 
common with a Coleopteron, as Leconte has pointed 
out; these are : (1) Hypermetamorphosis of the larva, 
as in the Meloidce , oil-beetles ; (2) parasitism ; (3) re¬ 
tention of the pupa within the skin of the larva, as in 
some of the Lampyridce ; (4) unfitness of the front 
wings for flight; (5) large development of the meta- 
thoracic segment. 
It is time to bring this little volume to a close ; I hope 
its perusal may lead not a few readers to take some in¬ 
terest in observing the habits of insects, their wonderful 
and varied structure. A high authority in many de¬ 
partments of Zoology, Mr. W. S. Dallas, has well said: 
“ Whether we consider the history of the curious trans¬ 
formation of insects, their extraordinary and often 
beautiful forms and colours, their wonderful instincts, 
and the close approach to reason exhibited by some of 
them, their effects upon our persons and property, or 
the extraordinary means by which nature avails herself 
of the instincts of some species to put a check upon 
the ravages of others, we always meet with much to 
command our admiring attention, sufficient in fact to 
render the study of insects one of the most attractive 
pages of the Book of Nature. Entomology has this 
additional recommendation, that it is one of those 
branches of Zoology that may be pursued in any situa¬ 
tion. Insects abound everywhere ; and wherever they 
occur their habits may be observed, and their structure 
