570 Suites a Buffon. 



concile all existing inconsistencies. Hence it follows, that so many 

 of the genera proposed in local and partial works, can find no place 

 in a general one, for, however specious they may look when standing 

 alone, it is often found that they will not unite into a consistent 

 whole, and they may he therefore said still further to embroil the 

 very subject they were designed to illustrate. 



In the want of tranchant characters in the perfect insects, Dr 

 Boisduval thinks himself justified in taking into account such as are 

 presented by the caterpillar and chrysalis. This method, to a cer- 

 tain extent, has been often adopted before, and is not objectionable; 

 for although it would be more convenient to derive the characters 

 from the butterflies in order to facilitate the identification of species, 

 it cannot be denied that their individuality is the same in all forms. 

 His genera are sufficiently numerous, but he appears to have esta- 

 blished or adopted none but such as were indispensable. We have 

 no doubt but that he will be blamed by some for not subdividing 

 with a less sparing hand. His genus Papilio has quite a Linnaean 

 aspect, comprising 224 species: Pieris contains 166, and Terias 53. 

 These great genera are divided into groups, founded on the form of 

 the caterpillar, the pictorial design and shape of the wings, the fades, 

 and finally the native country of the insect. These groups, however, 

 are given without characters, on the plea that they are too minute ; 

 an omission which greatly impairs their value. 



Our author divides the order Lepidoptera into two grand Legions, 

 which he names Rhopaloceres, having club-shaped antennae, and 

 Hetekoceres, with variable antennae. The former, which corre- 

 sponds to what we are accustomed to call Lepidoptera diurna, he di- 

 vides into three sections, in consequence of the manner in which the 

 chrysalis is secured ; 1 st, Svccincti, having the chrysalis attached by 

 the tail and a band round the middle ; 2d, Suspensi, chrysalis suspended 

 by the tail only ; 3d, Involuli, chrysalis enclosed in a cocoon. The 

 first of these sections contains the tribes, Papillonides, Pierides, Eu- 

 menides, Lycenides, Erycinides, Peridromides ; the second, Danai- 

 des, Heliconides, Nymphalides, Brassolides, Morphides, Satyrides, 

 Biblides, Libythides ; the third, the Hesperides. 



As in most arrangements, the great genus Papilio commences the 

 series, or rather the group named Ornithoptera, which includes se- 

 veral of the largest and most conspicuous kinds formerly referred to 

 Papilio. The type of this new genus is the magnificent P. Priamus, 

 which, with its associates, are all natives of the great islands in the 

 Indian Archipelago. As an example of the valuable information sup- 



