222 THE ORGANIZATION 



to illustrate the degree of centralization and cephalization of 

 the lower orders of Insects, and this other one, (fig. 131,) a profile, 

 internal view of a gigantic moth, may typify the perfection of 

 the law. In the carrion-beetle, (fig. 130,) the head (v) is perfectly 

 distinct from the chest, (vin,) but yet it has a broad neck, (vi,) 



M h (/I th b cr fti i ov whereas that of the moths, 



flies, and bees, insects 

 of the three highest orders, 

 is a narrow pivot. The 

 chest (thorax] of the bee- 



n g* d o a 



tie remains as yet in two 

 quite distinct divisions, (vin and ix, x,) whilst in the moth, (fig. 

 131,) &c., it is an almost or quite solid piece of concentration. 

 As regards the abdomen (fig. 130, xi' to xi") of beetles, and 

 the nearly related lower orders, the rings are quite distinct, and 

 among the higher orders they are as a general thing much more 

 consolidated, and in fact so closely united in certain moths, 

 butterflies, bees, hornets, and flies, as to appear to be altogether 

 massed into one. 



The common House-fly is an example of the highest degree to 

 which the law we are speaking of rises, and I am inclined to look 

 upon the order Diptera, to which it belongs, as the most eminent 



vi, the neck ; vn, the compound eyes ; vin, the prothorax, or first joint of 

 the chest ; ix, the scutellum of the mesothorax ; x, the third or last joint of 

 the chest ; xi' to xi", the joints of the abdomen ; m, the left anterior wing ; the 

 right one is cut off"; n, n 1 , the posterior pair of wings ; the vein-like ridges (ve) 

 are omitted in n l ; q, the thigh ; t, the tibia ; w, the tarsi, or foot-like part of the 

 leg, terminated by double claws ; s to s 1 , the apertures (spiracles) of the breath- 

 ing organs. From Leconte. 



Fig. 131. Sphinx Ligustri, Lin. The Privet Hawk-Moth. Natural size. A 

 longitudinal, sectional view, an, antennas, or feelers ; hd, the head, or first joint 

 of the body ; th, the thorax, consisting of the 2d, 3d, and 4th rings ; b to 6 1 , the 

 eight rings of the abdomen ; /, the base of the legs ; p, the tubular proboscis ; gl, 

 the gullet ; st, stomach ; cr, crop ; i, intestine ; a, posterior end of i ; h, A 1 , A 2 , 

 heart ; sg, superior nerve ganglions of head ; g, gl, ganglions of the thorax ; c, 

 nervous collar ; n, main abdominal nerve ; <? 2 , g 3 , # 4 , ganglions of n ; ov, ovary ; 

 d, oviduct ; o, exterior aperture of d. Slightly altered from Newport. 



