Bibliographical Notice. 1 15 



ledge we find that characters abound, and it is now rather a 

 question of the real value to be attached to the structure of different 

 organs than a matter of complaint that characters cannot be found. 

 Nor shall we arrive at a really satisfactory system of classification 

 of Lepidoptera until the structure of the principal organs has been 

 worked out in all the various stages of the insects ; and this is a 

 lifelong study for a great number of observers. 



The author of the present treatise has directed his attention 

 chiefly to the structure of the palpi in butterflies, paying special 

 attention (1) to the outward structure and form, (2) to the hairy or 

 scaly clothing of the palpi, and (3) to the basal spot, which is a bare 

 space on the inner side of the basal joint, which is striated, pitted, 

 and set with numerous conical hair-scales. For the purposes of the 

 present work 3557 palpi have been examined, belonging to 670 

 species and 302 genera, the result of this long and patient study 

 being embodied in the elaborate treatise before us. It is illustrated 

 by 6 plates, the first five representing structural details and the 

 sixth containing a genealogical tree of the evolution of the 

 Lepidoptera. The Hesperiidce are regarded as a distinct suborder 

 from the Rhopalocera, under the name of Grypocera, which is 

 certainly an improvement on the more usual course of treating them 

 as an aberrant family of the latter. 



The first portion of the work consists of a description of the 

 general form and clothing of the palpi under the various genera, 

 and especially of the basal spot ; the description of the latter some- 

 times exceeds in length that of all other structures noticed. Having 

 concluded this, the author generalizes his results, and discusses the 

 comparative relations of the various families and smaller subdivisions 

 which he admits. Here his observations are not confined to the 

 palpi, but extend to the neuration and other morphological characters 

 of the insects ; and he shows himself to be thoroughly acquainted 

 with the extensive and not always easily accessible literature of the 

 Order Lepidoptera, and compares his own conclusions with those of 

 other writers to great advantage. 



This is followed by general observations on the origin and 

 classification of the Lepidoptera, not without reference to palseonto- 

 logical considerations ; and by an extensive Bibliography, filling 11 

 closely printed pages. 



We congratulate the author on the completion of a valuable and 

 meritorious work, which marks an epoch in the study of the particular 

 structures to which it is devoted. Much good work has previously 

 been accomplished in Finland in other orders of insects ; and the 

 Finns are fully entitled to claim as high a rank as entomologists as 

 they have long occupied as philologists. 



