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 be 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 
Boisduvalf 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 
HETEROCERES, 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 ; 1st, Succincti, having the chrysalis attached by 
the tail and a band round the middle; 2d, Suspensi, chrysalis suspended 
by the tail only ; 3d, Involuti, 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- 
