216 HYMENOPTERA. 
Mother. They do. You know tliat 
ptera signifies wings ; and that by their 
substance, numbers, or situation, the 
several orders are distinguished. 
Lucy, Yes, mamma, 1 recollect the 
meaning of the names of the four first 
orders. What does hymenoptera mean ? 
Mother, Hymen signifies a membrane, 
and the order hymenoptera comprises all 
those insects, which have four membra- 
naceous wings, such, for example, as 
belong to the bee. 
Lucy, But the insects in the order 
fteuroptera have four wings, and very like 
those of the bee. 
Mother, There is some resemblance, 
but they are much more transparent, and 
more like net w^ork : whereas the wings 
of bees are ribbed chiefly lengthwise, and 
are much less transparent than those of 
any of the neuropterous insects. In some 
of the genera, however, the male fly has 
no wings ; in others, the female want^ 
them; and in some, the neuttrs have 
none. 
