4

Mr. R. M'Lachlan’s Monograph of the

can promise them that the delights to be derived from the studywill amply repay them for the labour bestowed upon it; and Ifeel assured that those who seriously occupy themselves in thestudy of the Trichoptera, will be the most ready to excuse theomissions and imperfections of this Monograph.

Characters of the Order.

Antennae setaceous, multiarticulate. Ocelli three or none. Man-dibles rudimentary (or absent ?). Maxillary palpi with thenumber of the joints varying in the males ; always five-jointed inthe females. Labial palpi three-jointed. Prothorax very short,forming a collar. Wings four, membranous, deflexed in repose,more or less pilose, with few transverse veins. Legs long;coxas elongated; tibim usually furnished with long spurs; tarsifive-jointed.

Eggs enclosed in a jelly-like substance.

Larvae generally aquatic*and furnished with external respiratoryfilaments. Legs six, and two anal crotchets; the first abdominalsegment with lateral and median processes. Residing in caseswhich are either free or fixed.

Pupae remaining in the cases until shortly before the metamor-phosis. Antennae and legs free. Mandibles strong and oftendentate ; only used for the purpose of breaking through the case.

It is not my intention to enter into a lengthened examinationof the reasons that have induced Entomologists to consider theseinsects either as forming a distinct Order, or as a part of theNeuroptera . Among modern authors, on the one hand rank thenames of Kirby, Leach, Curtis, Stephens, Westwood and Kolenati ;on the other, Pictet, Rambur, Brauer, Hagen, &c. It is with nodisrespect to the opinions of the latter gentlemen that l elect tofollow the example of most of my countrymen, and to considerthe Trichoptera as forming a distinct Order. It appears to toethat amongst the Neuroptera (in the Linnaean sense) are includedtwo or three Orders, each of co-ordinate value with those thathave been universally received as such, and which cannot be re-tained in such close relationship without outraging the laws ofclassification both metamorphotic and cibarian.

If the claims of the Trichoptera to be considered a separateOrder be admitted, the families still remaining in the Neuroptera will be scarcely less discordant than before, and it follows that the

* The only well-authenticated exception is Enoicyla pusilla, Burnt., whichis not a British species.