WINGS OF INSECTS. 273 
order, they can all supply us with important charac- 
ters for discriminating natural groups. 
(186.) Among insects (Annulosa), the organs 
of locomotion are varied in a surprising manner, 
according to the economy of each: our present 
remarks, however, will be confined to the feet. 
Celerity of motion, both in the air, and upon the 
ground, is rarely united; but, in the generality of 
the winged orders, is meted out in different and 
unequal proportions. The lepidopterous insects, 
which are, in truth, the typical perfection of the 
Annulosa, are the most perfect in their flight, 
although they scarcely ever walk. The Coleoptera, 
on the other hand, are the most active walkers, yet 
the most imperfect flyers. The Cicindelide and 
some of the Carabide show us a greater union of 
both these modes of progression than is to be found 
in almost any other insects. Their predacious 
habits, which oblige them to be constantly hunting 
and running down other insects upon which they 
feed, require this activity ; and this is more perfectly 
accomplished, in the Cicindelide especially, by un- 
usual powers of flight. Looking to these groups, 
and to the whole of the raptoreal tribe of beetles, 
we consequently see a perfection of structure in the 
foot suited to such a life: and this, with their car- 
nivorous habits, is their strongest and best dis- 
tinction. The five perfect joints in the legs of 
these beetles correspond to the five perfect toes of 
the insessoreal birds, and are an additional proof that 
a great developement of the foot is a sure indication 
of typical pre-eminence. Among the apterous class, 
we see this again in the numerous feet of the scorpion, 
T 
