88 



The NatuPvAlist. 



time, considered tliey formed part of tlie lepidoptera, and at present it 

 is by no means clear that some genera like Acentropus and Psyche, 

 which are placed in the lepidoptera, do not properly belong to the 

 trichoptera. It is, therefore, very clear that this order, or sub-order, 

 should be placed in close proximity to the lepidoptera. 



Hymenoptera, — Another family of insects which possesses several, 

 perhaps I might say many, points of resemblance to the lepidoptera, is 

 tenthredinidfe or saw-flies ; these, especially in their larva state, in 

 their appearance, manner of feeding, formation of cocoons, &c., are so 

 near to the lepidoptera as to to easily mistaken for them-. These in- 

 sects should also occupy a position close to the lepidoptera, and the 

 only natural way seems to be to place the trichoptera at one end, and 

 the tenthredinid^ at the other, with the lepidoptera between, the 

 former connecting them with the neuroptera, and the latter with the 

 hymenoptera. 



The arrangement which I propose should be begun with the genus 

 Acentropus, as being the nearest allied to the trichoptera, if, indeed, it 

 really be not one of that sub order. Then should follow the genus 

 Hydrocampa, and the rest of the Pyrales, followed by the Deltoides, 

 Crambites, Tortricina, and Tineina. Then-should come the Geometrina, 

 beginning with "the pugs." After the Geometrina the Noctuse, 

 beginning with the jSToctua-Geometriformes, and ending with the 

 Noctua-bombyciformes, the reverse of which is at present employed. 



The step out of the Noctuse is through the genus A crony eta into the 

 Bombyces, in which I should place all, or nearly all, of those Nocturni 

 now generally placed after M. arundinis, the pseudo-bombyces, and 

 perhaps one or two of those included under Noctuae. These I would 

 arrange in a similar manner to that of our present lists, with the hairy 

 larvse at the end, finishing up with the bristly S. carpini. From this 

 we go to the butterflies, beginning with those that have spiny larvse, 

 the Nymphalida3, arranging them on a similar plan to that adopted in 

 Newman's work on these insects. From the butterflies (skippers) we 

 pass to the SphingidsB, beginning with the clear-wings (^'ma), and thus 

 merging into the first division of the next order. 



I throw out these few ideas, not that they will be likely to be " 

 adopted by many, but more with the view of causing others to express 

 their opinions upon the plan proposed. It seems to me that each 

 collector has devoted himself to one order, arranged that according to 

 his own idea, without any reference to any other order. We want to 

 study the relationships of the various groups more, and this cannot be 

 done when collectors and students devote themselves to one group or 



