48 



satisfied with?* It is proved correct, simply and solely by the 

 harmony with which each flows into each, — with which neighbour 

 meets neighbour, — comparable somewhat to that exquisite feeling 

 which induces a man to bend to the peculiarities, and perhaps 

 even little failings of a friend, until he makes them almost his 

 own. It can hardly be supposed that the sub-classes naturally 

 fell into the positions which I have assigned to them, without 

 some little endeavour, on my part, to produce this harmony. 

 This was far from the case. The discovery, if it be one, was the 

 result of serious and deliberate study. Even after arriving at 

 their present state, I have twice endeavoured to alter these 

 positions, once in hopes of making some of the Tortrices meet the 

 Papilionidae, as I had an idea that that very assiduous and inge- 

 nious naturalist. Dr. Horsfield, had mentioned the discovery of 

 such an approach. -j- In vain, however, did / strive to discover 

 such an approach, in either larva, pupa, or imago, while these 

 points of resemblance were most abundant between the Geometrae 

 and Papiliones ; the pupa, as though in sport, being now sus- 

 pended by the tail, now girted round the waist, now enveloped 

 in a silken web ; sometimes round-headed, sometimes pointed, 

 sometimes eared ; now smooth, anon angulated, black, brown, 

 yellow, pure green, clouded, or spotted : of these, and a thousand 

 other peculiarities, which tended to corroborate my ideas of 

 arrangement, I refused invariably to avail myself, trusting to one 

 guide only, which seems as steadfast as a rock : that relation of 

 imago constitutes approach of divisions ; relation of larva is the 

 tie which holds divisions together. The second alteration I endea- 

 voured to make, was to place the Papiliones in the centre, a 

 situation to which their splendour and magnitude would really 

 appear to give them a title. This idea seems every way so 

 plausible, and so likely to be proposed by entomologists, should 

 any such see merit enough in this system to give their attention 

 to its minutiae, that I am compelled to consider it more at large. 



To a sub-class selected for a centre, two qualities are indis- 

 pensably requisite. They have been previously given from 



* This question has occurred. 



f It is so long since I have seen Dr. Horsfield's beautiful work, that 1 will 

 not pledge myself to the doctor's making this assertion. 



