2o6 OPINIONS ON MR. NEWMAN's SPHINX VESPIFORMI3. 



agreed upon any one point of nomenclature, it is in preserving 

 for the Culeoptera, &c. the name of orders. What possible 

 benefit does the author suppose can arise, by thus transposing 

 and altering well-established sectional names ? With myself, 

 at least, confusion has been the result ; since whilst studying 

 the pages of the '*' Sphinx Vespiformis," I was constantly 

 tripping over the misapplied terms, kingdom, class, order, &c. 

 I trust entomologists will set their faces against the attempted 

 innovations. 



Yours, &c. 

 The Grove, Hammersmith, I. O. Westwood. 



Oc/. 1832. 



(To he conthtued.) 



3. Observations on the Newmannian, or Septenary Sys- 

 tem. — Sir, I conceive it to be my duty to send you my opi- 

 nions on the subject which has lately engrossed so large a 

 portion of the attention of the scientific naturalists of this 

 country. I need not say you are at liberty to publish my 

 opinions, or not, as you may think fit ; but I appeal to you, 

 as Editor of a scientific magazine, whether such a magazine 

 should not be always open to the free expression of opinion. 

 My strictures may be unpalatable to many, — they certainly 

 will be to some of your readers ; but as truth must sooner 

 or later triumph, the sooner that delusion which obscures it 

 is dispelled the better. In your review of " Sphinx Vespi- 

 formis," what have you said? Every entomologist of my 

 acquaintance was eagerly expecting a decisive opinion from an 

 entomological magazine : your number comes amongst us, and 

 contains no opinion. You merely recommend us to read 

 what we had all read at least a dozen times. Permit me to 

 say. Sir, that in your review there appears a kind of sup- 

 pressed disapprobation, which, to myself, who am not in your 

 confidence, is quite unintelligible. Did you believe in the 

 theory of a septenary series of circles, you would, with the 

 friendly feeling you manifest towards its author, have openly 

 avowed that belief; but you do not believe; then. Sir, why 

 not boldly say so I You say, the Essay " will be read with 

 pleasure by those who may not be disposed to coincide with the 

 peculiar views of the author:" so it will ; but should you not 

 have added, " Such is the plausibility which his extraordinary 

 talent has given to a theory, the most absurd and extravagant 



