CLASSIFICATION OF INSECTS. 205 



'Sphinx Vespiformis,' published some time since, that 

 seven was the predominant number; and that, in every 

 group of seven, whether the group be large or small, one 

 of the seven is central, and the other six suiTound it, and 

 are each connected with it. As a specimen of this ar- 

 rangement the following location of the seven classes may- 

 suffice. 



LEPIDOVTERA. 

 HEMIPTERA. DIPTERA. 



NEUROPTERA. 

 ORTHOPTERA. HYMENOPTE RA. 



COLEOPTERA. 



This septenary system is now making evident progress, 

 after having been written against with what the author 

 thinks unnecessary severity ; unnecessary, because tem- 

 perate argument and persevering enquiry do more to elicit 

 truth, and fair, moderate statements more to establish it, 

 than angry words and flat contradictions. The author has 

 never met with a single argument, either in print or in the 

 course of conversation, to shake his steadfast belief that the 

 septenary system is the system of nature. Almost every new 

 form of insects that we receive from distant countries, — 

 almost every newly ascertained fact in metamorphosis, adds 

 an additional link to the evidence already recorded on this 

 interesting subject; whereas, were the system ideal or ap- 

 plicable only to the comparatively small number of insects 

 with which we are acquainted, each new form must prove 

 an argument against its truth, and consequently a barrier 

 to its reception. 



