SYSTEM OF NATURE. 
91 
found that the sun was the centre of their revolutions. — 
Moreover, the Quinarian system can scarcely he said to 
form an era, because, with the single and unfortunate ex¬ 
ception of Dr. Horsfield, no entomological author has 
adopted its peculiarities, but each has continued to employ 
various modifications of the Eclectic as though no other 
had intervened. Again, the Eclectic system seems to 
date from DeGeer rather than Latreille, and is therefore 
anterior to that of Fabricius. 
As I cannot agree with the learned writer who has laid 
down these entomological eras, in having “ recourse to 
the most ancient of all records, the Old Testament,” I 
must date the first era somewhat later, and synchronous 
with Aristotle, with w T hom it originates, and, as far as pro¬ 
gression is concerned, terminates also. The following 
view of the Aristotelian system is extracted from the ‘ In¬ 
troduction to Entomology.’ 
Pterota or winged 
Insects. 
Pterota simul et 
Aptera. 
Aptera. 
ARISTOTLE. 
CLASSES. 
'Coleoptera 
Pedetica 
Astomata 
Psychas 
Tetraptera 
majora 
Tetraptera 
opisthocentra 
.Diptera 
Myrmex 
Pygolampis 
= Coleoptera. 
= Orthoptera. 
= Hemiptera. 
= Lepidoptera. 
-= Neuroptera. 
■ = Hymenoptera. 
= Diptera. 
= Formica. 
= Lampyris. 
When we consider the striking difference between the 
winged and apterous ants, and between the male and 
