122 
Mr. J. O. Westwood on the Apod 
the place of deficient feet. The thoracic [prothoracic] segment of 
Coleoptera is evidently the one bearing the first pair of feet. We 
have next four pair of locomotive organs attached to that part of 
the trunk commonly considered as consisting of only two segments. 
Now for Latreille’s theory to stand, it is necessary to resolve these 
two segments into four, which, although not yet effected, I confess 
I think by no means improbable.” He then proceeds to show 
that those segments which bear the true organs of locomotion 
constitute the thorax, and adds, “ Those unacquainted with the 
conformity of nature to certain general principles, will have great 
difficulty to understand how the wing of an Hymenopterous insect 
can be one of its feet; yet this is not so dissimilar as the fore-foot 
of a quadruped and the wing of a bird often agreeing, almost to 
the number of digiti.” ( Horce Entomologicce, p. 414.) 
Messrs. Kirby and Spence partially adopted these views of 
Latreille and Mac Leay, observing that Mr. Mac Leay’s opinion 
seems to receive some confirmation from the circumstance that, in 
the larva state, insects consist of two segments more than in the 
imago; these follow the three pedigerous segments succeeding the 
head; they have no prolegs, and are supposed to belong to the 
thorax, rather than to the abdomen. To make this circumstance 
bear upon the question, it must be proved that in the perfect state 
these segments in some manner become the back of the trunk and 
bear the wings. This would not be more wonderful than many 
changes that are known to occur in insects. Here it will be seen 
that these authors rely upon the certainly forcible circumstance that 
the fifth and sixth segments of the body of those larvae which are 
furnished with false legs, are destitute of those organs, although 
instances misht be mentioned in which one at least of these seg- 
ments bear legs, and although in the Crustacea the analogous 
segments are provided with perfect legs. 
Mr. Mac Leay however, in his recent memoir in the Zoological 
Journal, has adopted the views of M. Audouin, considering that 
the differences which have been pointed out in respect to the 
number of segments in perfect insects, result more often from 
imperfect study or unpractised examination on the part of the 
person describing, than from any real anomaly in the animal 
described, instancing in confirmation thereof his own observation 
on the abdomen of the Oryctes, as mentioned in the Ilorce Entomo- 
logicce. “ This truth,” he adds, “ will be evident to any Entomologist 
who takes the trouble of comparing the perfect insect with the 
pupa, and this again with the larva. Let any large beetle be taken, 
for instance, one of the Dynastidce or Prionidce: at first sight it 
