4 
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Insects. 9057 
degree either of instinct or reason than the honeysuckle; and thus will every plant 
accommodate itself to altered circumstances quite as readily asa bee: both act without 
tuition and without reflection ; they do so because they have no choice. Then let us 
consider what is called erroneously the hexagonal form of a cell: the word does not in 
any way convey the meaning intended, which is that a transverse section of the beau- 
tifull cell formed by the bee presents a hexagonal outline, the cell itself being a hexa- 
hedral prism. There is in Nature a decided tendency to adopt this form, and it appears 
to me the result of crowding, not of design. The cells of Microgaster alvearius, cut 
through transversely, exhibit exactly the same type of structure, as indeed the name 
‘implies, and yet I believe even Mr. Smith would uot contend that this result was pru- 
duced by contrivance and reasoning powers on the part of the eyeless, footless, I might 
almost add shapeless, maggots, which are the sole architects. Again, I have found the 
eggs of a Pentatoma assuming an exactly similar form; in fact, so similar are these 
that many an entomologist has believed them the work of a Hymenopteron. Again, 
the eggs, which constitute the roe of a female herring, are always compressed when 
approaching maturity, into hexahedral prisms, a section of which would exhibit the con- 
stantly recurring hexagonal outline. Again, the lenses in the eyes of insects; surely 
no one will attribute any design or management on the part of the insect, in the 
structure of these constantly recurring hexagons. Again, the form of basaltic columns 
at Staffa and Fairhead are mere repetitions of bees’ cells on a larger scale; the outline 
of a section is exactly similar. Again, in bubbles of soap and water, the outline of 
each bubble, when it impinges on others, is flattened; while, untouched by others, it 
is spherical. Now, in all these instances, and each instance is the type of a thousand 
others, there is no more evidence of individual design than in the formation of my 
hand. Design there certainly is, but design on the part of the great Workmaster— 
design to which the bee or the basalt yields alike unreasoning obedience—Edward 
Newman. 
Addendum to the Paper “ On some New or Rare British Coleoptera” 
(Zool. 8998). By G. R. Crorcn, Esq. 
THE reprint of Mr. Rye’s article in the ‘ Zoologist” (Zool. 9002), 
renders it almost necessary for me to justify myself, if possible, from 
the charge of wilfully ignoring the Stephensian names in favour of 
Teutonic ones. An investigation of Mr. Waterhouse’s Catalogue (ex- 
clusive of the Staphylinidz) gives seventy-two species as Marshamian ; 
of these I have rejected five, three as not being recognisable with 
certainty,and two from different views of synonymy: seventy-two spe- 
cies are also recorded as Stephensian; of these I have rejected seven, 
—five I consider insufficiently characterised, and two depend on the 
. view taken of Linnean and Fabrician types: I have, however, inad- 
vertently appended later authors’ names to six species described by 
Stephens. It is, however, to the Stapbylinidz that Mr. Rye’s remarks, 
as I suppose, principally refer, though it was, I should hope, suffi- 
ciently obvious that I had used the Erichsonian names throughout, 
VOL. XXII. 2c 
