WINGS OF INSECTS. 273 



order, they can all supply us with important charac- 

 ters for discriminating natural groups. 



(186.) Among insects (Amiulosa), 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 Cicindelidce and 

 some of the Carabidce 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 Cicindelidce. especially, by un- 

 usual powers of flight. Looking to these groups, 

 and to the whole of the raptoreal tribe of beetles, 

 Ave 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 clevelopement 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, 



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