[1771] Chabrier Sur le Vol des Ins. c. i. 446, 448, 451—.
[1772] Ibid. 412.
[1773] Ubi supr. c. ii. 333.
[1774] According to M. Chabrier, who agrees with him, M. Latreille also is of opinion, that the parapleura is the analogue of the posterior coxæ. Ubi supra, c. ii. 312. Note 2.
[1775] M. Latreille has changed the denomination of this Order to Rhiphiptera, because at first he thought that these organs were not at all analogous to elytra or wings; but since, upon further investigation, he appears to admit that they assist in flight (Annales Génér. des Scienc. Phys. VI. xviii. 8. Compare MacLeay, Hor. Entom. 423. Note *), in common justice he is bound to restore the name originally given to the Order. In the same place of the work here quoted, M. Latreille also speaks of these pseudelytra, as I would call them, as appendages of the mesothorax: but whoever consults Mr. Bauer's admirable figures of Xenos Peckii (Linn. Trans. xi. t. ix.), and is aware of the unimpeached and minute accuracy of that admirable microscopic artist, will be convinced that they belong to the anterior legs, and consequently to the prothorax.
[1776] Plate [X.] and Plate [XXVIII.] Fig. 18-23.
[1777] Chabrier, Analyse, &c. 27.
[1778] N. Dict. d'Hist. Nat. ix. 568. We have seen above (p. 578.) that the wings of insects are connected with their legs by the scapula and parapleura.
[1779] MacLeay, Hor. Entomolog. 413—. Mr. MacLeay's opinion seems to receive some confirmation from a circumstance overlooked when the larvæ of insects were treated of above (p. 130—), and to which he alludes (411); namely, that in that state they consist of two segments more than in the imago; these follow the three pedigerous segments, have no pro-legs, and are supposed to belong to the trunk rather than to the abdomen. To make this circumstance bear upon the question, it must be proved that in the perfect insect these segments in some manner become the back of the trunk and bear the wings. This would not be more wonderful than many changes that are known to occur in insects.
[1780] Latreille, Organization extérieure des Ins. 173—.