STATES OF INSECTS. (Larva.) 159 
former orders in that state more strongly resemble nu- 
merous coleopterous larvae, than when they are young 
and much shorter. I before called your attention to the 
remarkable circumstance that contrasts very many larvez 
of Hexapod insects that become winged in their perfect 
state with adult Myriapoda: namely, that in one the pro- 
gress to this state is by losing their prolegs and shorten- 
ing their body; while in the other, the reverse of this 
takes place, numerous prolegs and additional segments 
being gained before they arrive at maturity*. As the 
multiplication of organs is a sign of imperfection, it may 
be affirmed of the former of these tribes, that their pro- 
gress is towards greater perfection; while that of the 
other may be called a degradation. As larvee may be 
regarded as a stepping-stone by which approach is made 
from the apterous to the winged tribes of Insects, it 
seems most consistent with general analogy that each 
should connect with the other in that state in which the 
resemblance is greatest. Now the Myriapoda resemble 
larvae, as we have just seen, most when in their adult 
state; therefore the comparison should be between larvee 
and adult Myriapoda. 
Mr. MacLeay divides coleopterous larvee into five tribes 
thus characterized :— 
1. A carnivorous hexapod larva, with an elongate linear 
Jlattened body, having a large head armed with two sharp 
falciform mandibles, and furnished with six granular eyes 
on each side. "This kind he denominates Chilopodiform, 
as having for its type in the Ametabola, Scolopendra L. 
The examples he gives are Carabus and Dytiscus. 
2. A herbivorous hexapod larva, with a long and al- 
* See above, p. 23. 
