232 OPINIONS ON MR. NEWMAN S SPHINX VESPIFORMIS. 



It is time for me to conclude ; I fear I have already ex- 

 tended this letter to a length which you will consider unreason- 

 able. In conclusion, let me say, that I consider the system 

 proposed in " Sphinx Vespiformis" the system of nature ; first, 

 because the most capable writer of the present or any past era 

 has placed the principal divisions in the same relative situations; 

 secondly, because, unconfined by the " connecting links," pro- 

 posed by Mr. Newman, I have discovered others incapable of 

 refutation ; thirdly, because I plainly discern the existence of 

 centres ; and fourthly, by mathematical reasons I infer seven 

 is the number which must surround them. 



Accept my best wishes for the prosperity of your Magazine, 



and believe me 



Yours, &c. 



Sept. 29, 1832. SCRUTATOR, F. R. & L. S. 



2. Notes upon the Natural System, 8fc. — The establish- 

 ment of a Magazine, devoted solely to entomology, appears 

 to offer a channel through which the wish expressed by Mr. 

 Newman, to hear the opinions of others respecting the merits 

 of his " Sphinx Vespiformis " may be gratified ; and I there- 

 fore propose to avail myself of its pages to record a few Notes, 

 made during my perusal of it. There are various portions of 

 the work, however, respecting which I beg to offer no opinion 

 of my own ; such as the circularity of groups, their septenary 

 subdivision, the centrality of a typical group, or the mode of 

 progression, hoping that these subjects will be discussed by 

 naturalists more competent than myself to the task. 



The first two pages of the " Sphinx Vespiformis" form 

 one of the neatest introductions which I have ever met with. 

 The small clear-winged Sphinges have long been objects of 

 interest with me ; and being anxious to verify the account 

 given of the true Sphinx Vespiformis, I too paid it a visit, 

 and was gratified to find that we are thus enabled to clear up 

 the doubts which have been raised respecting the synonymy of 

 this species, in consequence of the Linnaean description having 

 been decidedly drawn from a rubbed specimen of the Asiliformis 

 of Fabricius, Haworth, &c., (which latter name must conse- 

 quently fall) ; and further, that the reference made by Mr. Curtis, 

 alone, of the (Estriformis (or Cynipiformis) to the Vespiformis 

 of Linnaeus (which reference Mr. Newman has omitted to 



