THE MONILICORNES. 203 



Coccinella of Linnaeus), are more protected than any 

 others, by that hard covering which is peculiar to the 

 Coleoptera. It might, therefore, be supposed that they 

 should stand at the head of the order ; but this infer- 

 ence by no means follows. Superior perfection of 

 structure is the only true and certain distinction of 

 typical pre-eminence : this we consider as one of the 

 first aphorisms in the Natural System ; for it is that 

 which places the Quadrumana at the head of the Mam- 

 malia, the Insessores as the type of birds, and the 

 Ptilota as the first of the Annulosa : it is equally mani- 

 fest in the least of Nature's groups, as in the greatest ; 

 for it is by this rule that the animal kingdom takes 

 precedence both of the vegetable and the mineral. This 

 perfection of structure in typical groups implies the 

 possession of a greater number of faculties, and, there- 

 fore, a more complicated organisation, than is enjoyed 

 by the rest ; but, in aberrant groups, this perfection is 

 confined only to some one property, which is always 

 accompanied by a diminution of others. Of this latter 

 fact, a famihar example, out of hundreds which might 

 be adduced, wUl suffice. The Scansores, or climbing 

 order of birds, is an aberrant group : the perfection, 

 therefore, of this group is confined to one particular 

 quahty, — that of climbing; and this quality, being 

 most conspicuous in the parrots and the woodpeckers, 

 places these birds at the head of their own order. In 

 like manner are we to judge of the rank of the moni- 

 licorn beetles. That they may represent the Coleoptera, 

 when the contents of the whole order are compared with 

 the other Ptilota, Nature has developed in them one of 

 the leading distinctions in a most extraordinary man- 

 ner ; for, in the Cassidce, we find the members of the 

 body concealed beneath the shield of the head and the 

 wing-cases ; and they thus so closely resemble a che- 

 lonian reptile, that, in all countries, they have acquired 

 the name of tortoise beetles. Yet, notwithstanding this 

 great developement of this one character, we find a pro- 



