[LETTER XLVI.]
ORISMOLOGY, OR EXPLANATION OF TERMS.
It was by the language of terms that he invented and employed, as well as by his system and methods of arrangement, that Linné smoothed the way to the study of Natural History;—having therefore led you through a large portion of the flowery fields of the Science of Entomology, I must now conduct you into that arid but not barren or unprofitable region. To enable you to understand descriptions of insects, or to describe them yourself, you must have a knowledge of the technical language by which their parts and characters are expressed. Much of this you already know from the definitions of external parts, furnished in a former letter[1074]: I shall now give you a more full and general explanation of terms, adding many new ones for unnoticed characters, that may be conveniently employed.
The science of terms, which I shall call Orismology[1075], may be divided into two branches—General Orismology, and Partial Orismology; the first containing general definitions, and the last those relating to particular parts and organs.
A. GENERAL ORISMOLOGY.
I. SUBSTANCE.
1. Membranous (Membranacea). A fine, thin, transparent substance. A Membrane.—Ex. Wings of Hymenoptera and Diptera.
2. Pergameneous (Pergamenea). A thin, tough, and less transparent substance, somewhat resembling parchment.—Ex. The Tegmina of the Orthoptera[1076].
3. Coriaceous (Coriacea). A thicker, flexible substance, resembling leather.—Ex. Elytra of Telephorus and the Malacodermi.
4. Corneous (Cornea). A hard inflexible substance resembling horn.—Ex. Elytra of Lucanus Cervus and many other Coleoptera.
5. Crustaceous (Crustacea). A rigid calcareous substance.—Ex. The Shell of a Lobster or Crab.
6. Callous (Callosa). A substance without pores, harder than the surrounding matter, and usually elevated above it.—Ex. Elevated parts of the Collar in Nomada. (Mon. Ap. Angl. Apis * b.)[1077] Spots on the elytra of Stenocorus (Tylostagmus K. MS.) bimaculatus and affinities.
7. Cartilagineous (Cartilaginea). A gristly substance between bone and ligament.—Ex. The Tongue of many Hymenoptera.
8. Subereous (Suberea). A soft elastic substance somewhat resembling cork[1078]. The galls of some species of Cynips when mature approach to this substance.
9. Spongiose (Spongiosa). A soft elastic substance resembling sponge.—Ex. The Pulvilli of Thanasimus, Buprestis, &c.
10. Ligneous (Lignosa). A hard unelastic substance like wood.—Ex. Galls of some species of Cynips.
11. Carnose (Carnosa). A soft, fleshy substance.—Ex. Caterpillars and Grubs.
12. Tubulose (Tubulosa). When the interior is hollow or empty.
13. Solid (Solida). When the interior is full.
II. RESISTANCE.