INCLUDING THE DRAGON FLIES, LACEWING FLIES, DAY FLIES, STONE FLIES,
CADDIS FLIES, AND THEIR ALLIES.
Next to the butterflies and moths, the _Neuroptera_ (or nerve-winged
insects), to which belong the Dragon Flies, Lacewing Flies, Day Flies,
Stone Flies, Caddis Flies, and their allies, are undoubtedly the most
beautiful members of the insect tribe. Though they cannot compete with
the _Lepidoptera_ in point of colouring, it is questionable whether
they are not more graceful and elegant in appearance.
The order _Neuroptera_ was founded by the great Swedish naturalist
Linnæus, and its name has been kept intact since, though the
classification of the insects comprised in it has undergone many
modifications.
[Illustration: Fig. 41.--Ascacaphus Macaronius.]
The _Neuroptera_ are not a very numerous body of insects compared with
either the _Coleoptera_ or _Lepidoptera_, but they contain some of
the largest and most handsome insects known. The order is very well
represented in the temperate zones, though the finest species are met
with in the tropical parts of the world. Nearly 700 species are known
to inhabit the British Isles. In the whole world their number may be
given in round figures at about 4,000, but there is no doubt that this
number may be considerably increased.
The largest and most handsome species are the Dragon Flies or
_Ornoptera_, one species occurring in our own country, measuring
fully four inches in expanse of the wings. The Lacewing Flies
(_Hemerobiidæ_), the Day Flies (_Ephemeridæ_), the Stone Flies
(_Perlidæ_), and the Caddis Flies (_Trichoptera_), are among the other
more conspicuous members of the group.
[Illustration: Fig. 42.--Nemoptera Extensa.]
The _Neuroptera_ may be divided into three great sub-divisions,
according to certain well-defined characteristics. The modern tendency
is to raise each of these sub-divisions to the rank of orders.