STATES OF INSECTS. 159 



casion he very judiciously remarks, that " in terming 

 larvae Chilognathiformes or Chilopodiformes, it is not 

 meant that they are Scolopendrce or lull, or even near to 

 them in affinity ; but only that they are so constructed 

 that certain analogical circumstances attending them 

 strongly remind us of these Ametabola*." This remark 

 you will bear in mind while I am treating of this subject. 

 It should seem from another part of the same paragraph, 

 that the comparison which our learned Physiologist re- 

 commends, is between the young of the Ametabola and 

 the larvae of the corresponding groups of Coleoptera. 

 This must be understood to refer chiefly to the young of 

 the Chilopoda and Chilognatha, since they approach 

 nearer to them in that state, having then only six legs ; 

 but the rest of the Ametabola should certainly be brought 

 to this comparison in their adult state : and even the two 

 former orders in that state more strongly resemble nume- 

 rous coleopterous larvae, than when they are young and 

 much shorter. I before called your attention to the re- 

 markable circumstance that contrasts very many larvae 

 of Hexapod insects that become winged in their perfect 

 state with adult Myriapoda .• namely, that in one the pro- 

 gress to this state is by losing their prolegs and shorten- 

 ing their body ; while in the other, the reverse of this 

 takes place, numerous prolegs and additional segments 

 being gained before they arrive at maturity 5 . As the 

 multiplication of organs is a sign of imperfection, it may 

 be affirmed of the former of these tribes, that their pro- 

 gress is towards greater perfection; while that of the 

 other may be called a degradation. As larvae may be 

 regarded as a stepping-stone by which approach is made 



* Hor. Entomolog. 423. b See above, p. 23. 



