1620. Insects are the most numerous of those organised beings which move upon the earth. The number of species known to inhabit Great Britain alone is more than 10,000, and probably some hundreds still remain undiscovered. By this calculation, it appears that there are more than six insects to one plant. 'Now, though this proportion, it is probable, does not hold universally; yet if it be considered how much more prolific in species tropical regions are to our chilly climate, it may perhaps be regarded as not very wide of a fair medium. If, then, we reckon the phanerogamous vegetables of the globe, in round numbers, at 100,000 species, the number of insects would amount to 600,000. If we say 400,000, we shall perhaps not be very wide of the truth; and it is probable that more than three fourths of this number remain undiscovered.' (Kirby and Spence, Int. to Ent., vol. iv. p. 477.) (There are more than 7000 species or weevils already described belonging to the single Linnï¾µan genus Curculio.)
