248 FIRST PRINCIPLES OF NATURAL CLASSIFICATION. 
have, like all other circles, a sub-typical division of their 
own. These are distinguished by their caterpillars 
being armed with formidable spines or prickles, which 
in general are possessed of some highly acrimonious or 
poisonous quality capable of injuring those who touch 
them. In short, the infinite variety of ways by which 
this peculiarity is modified is so wonderful, as, but for 
unquestionable facts, would appear incredible. The 
suspension of the chrysalis is another intimation of the 
same symbolical character. That of the butterfly, the 
pre-eminent type of annulose animals, is fixed with its 
head upwards, as if it looked to the pure regions of 
heaven for the enjoyment it is to receive in its last and 
final state of perfection ; but the chrysalis of the brush- 
footed butterflies (Mymphalides Sw.), whose caterpillars 
are stinging, is suspended with the head downwards to 
the earth, thus pointing to the world as the only habit- 
ation where its innumerable types of evil are permitted 
to reside: or to that dark and bottomless region, where 
punishment awaits the wicked at cheir last great 
change. It is only when extensive researches bring to 
light a uniformity of results, that we can venture to 
believe they are so universal as to deserve being ranked 
as primary laws. Thus, when a celebrated entomologist 
denounced as “impure” the black and lurid beetles 
forming the Saprophagous Petalocera of Mr. Macleay, 
a tribe living only upon putrid vegetable matter, and 
hiding themselves in their disgusting food, or in the 
dark hollows of the earth, neither of these celebrated men 
suspected the absolute fact, elicited from our analysis of 
this group, that this very tribe constituted the swb-typical 
group of one of the primary divisions of coleopterous 
insects: nor had they any suspicion that by the filthy 
) habits, and repulsive forms of these beetles, nature had 
intended that they should be types or emblems of 
hundreds of other groups, distinguished by peculiarities 
equally indicative of evil. On the other hand, the 
Thalerophagous Petalocera, forming the typical group 
of the same division, present us with all the perfections 
