Origin of the Markings of Caterpillars. 167 



existing species of Papilio, it must assuredly be 

 of the greatest interest to become accurately ac- 

 quainted with them, to compare them with the 

 earliest stages of allied species, and to follow the 

 gradual divergence of the succeeding stages in 

 different directions, thus forming a picture of the 

 phyletic development of an evolving group. In 

 the course of such observations numerous col- 

 lateral results would doubtless come out. Investi- 

 gations of this kind, whether conducted on this 

 or on any other group, would, above all, show the 

 true systematic affinities of the forms, i. e. y their 

 genealogical affinities, and that in a better way 

 than could be shown by the morphology of the 

 perfect insects or the adult caterpillars alone. If 

 I am diffident in founding these conclusions upon 

 the development of the Sphinx-markings treated 



account of the development of the larvae of certain North 

 American species of Satyrus, see W. H. Edwards in the 

 " Canadian Entom.," vol. xii. p. 2i. Mr. P. H. Gosse's recent 

 description of the newly hatched caterpillar of Papilio Homerus 

 (Proc. Ent. Soc. 1879, p. Iv), furnishes a good illustration of 

 the value of studying the ontogeny. The natural affinities 

 of the Papilionidce, were at one time much disputed, some 

 systematists placing this family at the head of the Lepidoptera, 

 and others regarding them as being more closely allied to the 

 moths. Mr. Gosse's observation tends to confirm the latter 

 view, now generally received by Lepidopterists, since he states 

 that the larva in question " suggests one of the great Satur- 

 niadce, such as Samia Cecropia" Mr. Scudder, in the paper 

 above referred to, adopts an analogous argument to show 

 the close relationship between the Papilionida and Hesper- 

 id<z. R.M.] 



