438 FALLACY OF THE SEPTENARY SYSTEM. 



between Haustellata and Mandibulata, instead of proving the 

 incorrectness of that division, merely serve to shevi^ the author 

 allows himself to be led away by an ignis fatuus of his 

 brain, which blinds his perception of the true method of scien- 

 tific arrangement so apparent in this dichotomy. 



To make out his favourite number seven, this author (whose 

 youth may, perhaps, be pleaded a little in excuse for his zeal 

 for innovation) forces at one time two groups into one, at 

 another he divides groups which even the leader of this school 

 of innovations left untouched ; witness, for an example of the 

 first, his putting the Homoptera and Hemiptera into one 

 group, and especially his reuniting the Trichoptera to the 

 Neuroptera, the distinctions between which your correspon- 

 dent, Clericus, has so well pointed out ; for an example of the 

 second, we need only refer to his separating the Egeriadce, 

 Zygcenadce, and GlaucopisidcB from the Lepidoptera Crepus- 

 cularia ; thereby making the Sphinxidce^ a group of equal 

 importance with the whole genus Papilio of Linnaeus. 



The erroneous nature of Mr. Newman's theory shews itself 

 most plainly in these smaller groups ; for instance, instead of 

 two groups, as there are in fact in the G. Pajnlio of Linnaeus, 

 namely, Pajnlioyiidce and Hesperiadce , he must, in some way 

 which he does not point out, make seven families ; in the Lep. 

 Crepuscularia ten, for out of the Sjj/n?ixidce he will have to 

 make seven ; and though he has in the Bofubt/xidce made out 

 his full number, it is only by putting in two groups of insects, 

 belonging one to the Lep. Crepuscularia, the other to the 

 Noctuadcs. Thus are those who neglect the clear light of the 

 Dichotomous system leading us into a labyrinth from which, if 

 we proceed further, we shall be unable to extricate ourselves. 



Although I have much to say on this subject, I shall not 

 trouble you any further at present with observations on a 

 system which I hope to see soon fall into oblivion ; because, 

 from the tone of all your correspondents, with one or two ex- 

 ceptions, I well know that such truths as mine will not be at 

 all agreeable. I cannot, however, conclude without observing, 

 that I consider this essay to be the production of a young man 

 whose abilities, when ripened by age and experience, will shed 



* I doubt not but that some of your readers may sneer at the terminations of 

 the names of these groups; but, when I have Dr. Fleming for my guide, I fear 

 not that I shall be found erring. 



