186 Mr. Swainsou on the Natural Affinities 



lated, I can come to no other conclusion than that we have at 

 length returned, by a different route, to the point from which 

 we first commenced our inquiry. And that notwithstanding 

 the apparent dissimilarity between Papilio and Hesperia, they 

 are, in fact, closely united by certain characters, which, under 

 various modifications, preserve an unbroken thread through 

 the whole circle of the diurnal Lepidoptera. 



Nevertheless it must be observed, that there is an apparent 

 hiatus between the points of these two groups, so far as regards 

 tlie forms of the pei-fect insect : or at least, that the transition 

 is not so gradual and progressive as that which can be traced 

 in the other divisions. But this, I apprehend, may originate 

 either from ignorance of the metamorphos of certain insects 

 already known, or of others which still remain undiscovered. 

 I venture to express this opinion, because, so far from disco- 

 vering any particular fallacy in the mode of investigation here 

 adopted, I find it has conducted me through difficulties, 

 which, but for this guide, appeared at first insurmountable. 

 I see, therefore, no reasonable cause to doubt it will fail, or 

 become no longer of value, in the present instance. The true 

 metamorphos of Urania Lcilus*, when discovered, may pro- 

 bably confirm the views of M. Latreille ; and by assigning to 

 this insect an intermediate station between the two groups, 

 render their connexion perfect. Of the metamorphos of Cast- 

 nia we are equally ignorant : but I am more inclined to con- 

 sider that on this point also, the views of that celebrated en- 

 tomologist will be found correct ; and that Castnia will form 

 an aberi'ant group among the Sphingides connecting them 

 with the Hesperidce, by means of Hasp. Amycus of Cramer. 



It will be easily seen, that in this faint attempt to thread the 

 labyrinth of Natui'e, many inferior groups have been passed over. 

 To have enumerated all which have been defined by Fabri- 

 cius and Latreille, and to have characterized many others now 

 before me, would have swelled this paper to a volume. These 

 I shall examine more in detail at a subsequent period. At 

 present, my chief aim has been to fix the reader's attention to 

 tlie typical or more prominent forms, and to the affinities by 

 which they appear connected. If these are tolerably correct, 

 the minor divisions will easily arrange themselves on one side 

 or the other. It is the perfection of a natural group, that, 

 however extensive, it cannot be broken up, and arbitrary cha- 

 racters assigned to the different portions. On the contrary, 

 each will be dependent and interwoven with the next ; and the 



• I have so frequently had occasion to notice, when in South America, 

 the inaccuracy of M. Merian's plates, that I am fearful of citing them as an 

 absolute authority. 



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