%iiO OPINIONS ON MR. NEWMAN S SPHINX VESPIFORMIS. 



does not apply to the orders of Mandihilata , which seem to 

 be perfectly natural in their arrangement ; but to require, as 

 well as the Haustellata, some reduction in their number. 



The French entomologists have ascertained, by dissection 

 and profound investigation, that the orders, Homoptera, Tri- 

 choptera, and Dermaptera, are not anatomically to be distin- 

 guished from the orders from which they have been separated, 

 Hemiptero, Neuroptera, and Orthoptera ; and we must ever 

 bear in mind, that these philosophers have no theories either 

 to oppose or support, and have arrived at their conclusions on 

 purely scientific grounds, unbiassed by any other motives than 

 the highly praiseworthy ones of satisfying themselves, instruct- 

 ing their pupils, and promoting science. Strepsiptera is 

 obviously of less importance than the others. 



The author of " Sphinx Vespiformis" limits his classes to 

 the number seven; six of these, 1. Lepidoptera, 2. Diptera, 

 3. Hipiienoptera, 4. Coleoptera, 5. Ortho2)tera, 6. Hem'iptera, 

 are arranged around the circumference of a circle, the centre 

 of which is occupied by the seventh, Neuroptera. I am by 

 no means inclined to attach any great value to a particular 

 number, or to the cabalistic regularity of a diagram ; on the 

 contrary, I do not imagine that any number is universally preva- 

 lent through nature ; but in this particular instance I do believe, 

 and I think no reasonable person will deny, that the number 

 seven is most apparent and most appropriate. In inferior 

 divisions the number two is remarkably conspicuous ; as in 

 Lepidoptera, butterflies and moths ; in Diptera, gnats and 

 flies ; in Hymenoptera, the provident and the parasite insects ; 

 in Coleoptera, the carnivorous and the herbivorous ; in Orthop- 

 tera, the jumpers and the runners ; and in Hemiptcra, the 

 Homopterous and Heteropterous tribes : but I am neither 

 capable nor desirous of entering on this discussion at present ; 

 my object is to show the similarity between the conclusions of 

 a practical and a theoretical systematist. 



Allow me then to submit a view of Mr. Stephens's orders, 

 printing those which appear to me ill-placed in italics ; those 

 which the French entomologists have decided to be untenable, 

 and Strepsiptera as being of less value, in small Roman 

 characters; and those which appear good orders, and in their 

 place, in Roman capital letters ; and below this to place Mr. 

 Newman's in the position in which he places them, leaving 



