24f2 NEWMAN ON THE 



ences to my proposed location of the classes, I would willingly 

 test it by a dozen such series, could they be shown me. I know 

 of none besides those I have here adduced. This I consider 

 a triumphant superiority over every restricted system, because 

 the authors of such are compelled to abandon one or two of 

 these highly natural series of differences. Not to mention 

 minor Entomologists, I refer the reader to Swammerdam's 

 published opinion of the Maxillary System ; Fabricius' opinion 

 of the Alary System, and MacLeay's of the Metamorphotic 

 System. Each of these great men condemns one principal 

 character as proving no natural affinity ; and each differs in the 

 one so condemned. 



The object of this article is, to show that the Septenary 

 System is not dependant on any real or fancied similarity of ex- 

 ternal appearances, but will bear the most rigid scrutiny, founded 

 either on the structure of those parts in the perfect insect, 

 the differences of which have always been considered of para- 

 mount importance, or, on the still grander and more decided 

 differences of transformation itself. If it appear at the conclu- 

 sion that these tests, instead of invalidating, establish the 

 propositions previously made, I hope there will be found those 

 candid enough to admit that such propositions are not founded 

 in error. 



Of the Systems in question, I think the Alary, dependent on 

 the structure of the wings, has been the most widely employed; 

 and I will, therefore, suppose it the most perfect. It will be 

 needless to enumerate the great men, from Aristotle to our 

 contemporaries, who have employed the differences of the 

 wings as divisional characters; it is amply sufficient for my 

 purpose, that the classes now universally employed are founded 

 on these differences ; and that from these differences arise the 

 names by which the classes are at present universally designated. 

 Now although it is to the wings we must look for the differences 

 in question, the Entomologist will not be contented without a 

 reference also to the parts which bear them. It will be readily 

 seen that a series of differences must occur in general structure, 

 in order to accommodate the different degree of exertion for 

 which the wings may be required. We find the most exact 

 and symmetrical correspondence between the differences in the 

 pairs of wings, and the difference in the segments which bear 

 them, and even in those of adjoining segments. Thus so far 



