1 86 TRUE TALES OF THE INSECTS. 



To be brief, our better knowledge than heretofore of 

 the Lepidoptera gives rise to new views of the antennal 

 structure, and makes plain the absence of any such an 

 absolute difference. On this alone — on the clubbed or 

 non-clubbed terminations, according to Boisduval, or on 

 features which other entomologists deem more worthy 

 of consideration — two primary divisions cannot be 

 established. 



In the same way, the stout spine or spring on the 

 hind wings of moths is unsatisfactory as a classificatory 

 basis. This spine is furnished on the under wings, at 

 the costal base, and being received in a sort of socket 

 beneath the superior pair, maintains them in a horizontal 

 or somewhat deflexed position in repose, and is remark- 

 ably characteristic of the Heterocera. But all moths by 

 no means possess it, while a butterfly is known armed 

 with this apparatus. 



In a word, though we may speak of Rhopalocerous 

 and of Heterocerous characters, there is no one character 

 which infallibly severs the two divisions, another instance 

 of the fact that the naturalist has continually to face, 

 the necessarily arbitrary nature of classification. The 

 more intimate our knowledge of animal forms, past and 

 present, becomes, the more our demarcations give way 

 between all classificatory divisions, even from variety to 

 kingdom. As we arrive at a true conception of the 

 relations of animals, we realize the closer approach of 



