198 NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF INSECTS. 



have a greater resemblance to the tortoises than to any 

 other vertebrate animals ; it must follow, therefore, if 

 this analogy is not a mere fancy, that, on the circle of 

 Ptilota (of which this order forms a part) being 

 compared with that of the Reptilia, the Coleoptera and 

 the Chelonia stand opposite to, and represent, each other: 

 this they accordingly do, as seen in the following table: 



Analogies of the PTILOTA and the REPTILIA. 

 Orders of Reptilia ' 



1. Typical. 

 LEPIDOPTERA. OPHIDES. Serpents. 



2. Sub-typical. 

 HEMIPTERA. SAURES. Lizards. 



3. Aberrant. 



HYMENOPTERA. CHAMSLIONES. Chametions* 



COLEOPTERA. CHELONIA. Tortoises. 



NEUROPTERA. ELANIOSAURI. Fish Lizards. 



The fact, therefore, of the beetles being really in- 

 tended by Nature to represent the tortoises among 

 winged insects, may be safely inferred, because these 

 two groups 'stand opposite to each other in their re- 

 spective series; which series, it must be remembered, 

 being founded upon affinity, is entirely independent of 

 all analogous considerations. 



(172.) Let us now make another comparison. Every 

 entomologist knows that the Coleoptera are the most 

 gnawing of all insects : they have the strongest jaws ; 

 and both in the larva and perfect state, thousands 

 employ these organs in gnawing solid woods. Where, 

 therefore, do we find, among vertebrate animals, a si- 

 milar faculty displayed? Obviously in the order Glires, 

 or mice-like quadrupeds, named by M. Cuvier, from 

 this very circumstance, Rodentia. On placing the se- 

 ries of quadrupeds, therefore, opposite to that of the 

 Ptilota., we find these two particular groups come into 

 parallel relations. 



