72 HAUSTELLATA. LEPIDOPTERA. 



of half a million ! — 400,000 of which are the peculiar objects of the 

 entomologist's research, according to the calculations in the volume 

 already referred to *. — It is therefore obviously necessary for the 

 student to limit his <lesires, though at the same time his investi- 

 gations ought not to be ridiculed l)ecause he thinks proper to pro- 

 ceed to a greater extent than others, who choose to confine their 

 observations to any particular l)ranch of study, whether that of 

 organization alone, or of the affinities of particular groups. 



But the advocates for generic investigation assert, that the dis- 

 covery of a new species is of no importance, that it leads to no use- 

 ful result, an<l, finally, that a close examination of species is ridicuh)us 

 and useless ; thus sacrificing every princi[)le of true science hy as- 

 sertions that are readily disproved by the dissimilarities of structure 

 apparent in every extensive genus, which they without hesitation 

 adopt. As an example, the genus to which these remarks are ap- 

 pended may suffice j. its contents l)eing so manifestly dissimilar as 

 to strike every person with surprise that all are at this time in- 

 cluded under one generic name. Who, upon an examination of 

 H. Semele alone, would surmise that H. Cassiope, or Pamphilus and 

 its congeners, were placed in the same genus? And it is evident, 

 that to ac(]uire a knowledge of the real structure of the species 

 in a genus, all must ]»e obtained and examined, otherwise the 

 structure of some must he \ resumed, and we must remain in com- 

 parative ignorance of their organization, by confining our investi- 

 gations to the contemplation of genera alone. It is therefore clear 

 that a rigid examinati-m of species cannot Ite ridiculous, but is 

 absolutely/ necessary, in order to obtain correct views of affinity; 

 and the more rigidly we proceed, the greater lieauties jiresent 

 themselves to our notice, and much aflditional light is thrown 

 upon our knowledge of the harmonies of nature ; and surely we 

 cannc»t sufficiently admire th»)se productions which " are the M'ork 

 of a Being infinite in power, in wisdom, and in goodness," whose 

 beneficence is extended U) every olyect of the creation, and who 



" Has the great whole into perfection touched." 

 I should have entered somewhat into the (juestion of the distinc- 

 tion of species, were it not that I have treated at some length upon 

 that subject in the Introduction to my Systematic Catalogue. I 

 shall therefore merely add, that the approximation of kindred species 



* K. and Sp. Int. v. iv. p. 477. 



