VERMIOLOGY. 



It is obvious to every observer, that the stem or connecting 

 junctures of the Isis Hippuris, the type of the Melitaea genus is 

 cartilaginous, yet we observe upon dissection, immediately down the 

 centre, the appearance of a linear filament, which, to say the least, has 

 much the aspect of an osseous substance ; and should it really prove 

 to be of that nature, the difFerenca will be less considerable between 

 those two families than might be at first conceived. We are certainly 

 speaking of the dried specimens of our cabinets, and in which the indi- 

 cations may be deceptive : they nevertheless deserve enquiry. We 

 readily allow, with some exceptions of this doubtful nature, the 

 distinction of the two presumed genera may be very accurate, we 

 only wish to render them explicit, and at the same time to express 

 a hope that they may become objects of investigation in the hands 

 of some future naturalist, whose opportunities can afford him the 

 means of examining those particulars in their native seas, and in a 

 living state. The example before us in the meanwhile must be 

 regarded as a characteristic specimen of the new genus Melitaea, 

 and the Isis Hippuris, which will form the subject of a future plate, 

 the type of the Isis Genus, according the determination of the last 

 mentioned authors. 



