70 Mr. Marsuam’s Obfervations 
we fhall not be furprifed that he has fometimes erred : «€ humanum eft 
errare.” But our aftonifhment will be increafed when we carefully 
examine for ourfelves, and obferve how feldom he did fo. For we 
find, that feveral errors that have been imputed to him arife from 
the fimilarity of many fpecies to each other, and our not having feen 
the true fpecies of Linneus. The truth of this obfervation has been 
proved in many inftances, fince the arrival of his valuable cabinet 
in this country. Infeéts of various fpecies are fo nearly connected, 
that it is, as I have before obferved, impoffible to difcriminate them 
without attending to their different ftates: and this could never be 
expected from aman who was defcribing all the animals on the 
habitable globe; as in many cafes he was obliged to defcribe from 
bad {pecimens, and often to depend on the reprefentations of others. 
Many authors, fearful of multiplying fpecies, appear to have fallen 
intothe contrary extreme; and Linneus himfelf has either confidered 
different Phalenz in many inftances asthe fame, or he was a ftran- 
ger to many of the moft common in this country.. I fhall however 
at prefent confine myfelf to his Phal. Bom. Lubricipeda and Men- 
dica, and hope that others will endeavour to make fimilar remarks ` 
on thofe fpecies that appear to be erroneoufly united. To render 
the matter as clear as poflible, I have fubjoined a drawing of four 
different Phalænæ, that appear to have much affinity, in their three 
. ftates, and have added a fpecific defcription of each, together with 
the fynonyms of various authors; by which it will appear how much 
they have been miíquoted and mifapplied. 
PHALÆNA BOMBYX. 
EnMINEA. Tab.1.f.i. — Cream Ermine. 
B. Alis albis punétis nigris fparfis, abdomine quinquefariam nigro 
punctato. 7 
Linn, Syf, Nat. 829. 69. lubricipeda. Faun. Suec. 1138. foem. 
Fab. 
