238 NATURAL ARRANGEMENT OF INSECTS. 



occupy the station assigned by Mr. MacLeay to his 

 Anoplognathidce, a group which appears to form an 

 aberrant portion of the Rutilince. We feel it necessary 

 to make these observations, as we by no means are sa- 

 tisfied, in our own mind, that the Cetoniance are so far 

 removed from the Megasomince, as they appear to be in 

 this arrangement. These doubts are occasioned by the 

 strong and unquestionable relationship between the gi- 

 gantic Dynastince of the New World, and their proto- 

 types in the genus Goliatha, on the opposite coast of West- 

 ern Africa. The question, then, simply resolves itself 

 into this: Is the obvious relation between these groups 

 one of affinity, or of very strong analogy ? This im- 

 portant point can only be determined by a thorough 

 analysis, not merely of the two groups in question, 

 but also of the Rutilince and the Glaphyrince ; for it is 

 yet by no means clear that Goliatha may not be really 

 within the circle of the latter. At all events, it is per- 

 fectly obvious, that these gigantic insects represent that 

 type which we shall term in this, as in former volumes, 

 the Rasorial. This will be equally true, into what- 

 ever circle they may ultimately be found to enter. 

 Their extreme rarity, and very high price (for they 

 are the most valuable, in a commercial point of view, of 

 all insects), render it impossible to procure a series of 

 the species for thorough examination.* It is clear, 

 however, to us, that the Goliatha of Brazil are much 

 nearer related to the Glaphyrina, through the medium 

 of Trichius, than to these African types ; although 

 nothing, at present, can be stated with safety on the 

 true nature of all these relations. 



(212.) We may revert to the foregoing diagram, 

 solely with a view to illustrate the analogies, there ex- 



* One of these sold for III. 10s. 6d. at the sale of Drury's fine collection 

 of insects in 1805. A beautiful figure was published by Martyn of this 

 grand insect, under the name of Scarabceus gigas. Others have been more 

 recently found on the western coast of Africa ; but they are so much prized, 

 that we have heard of 301. having been offered and refused for a single spe- 

 cimen, the proprietor demanding 50/. It was subsequently sold, as I un- 

 derstood, for IQl. 



