130 
THE WEEKLY ENTOMOLOGIST. 
there is nothing very striking in the 
resemblance, it has never appeared 
to any one a matter of difficulty to 
account for it. Indeed it is one of 
those facts which appear to require 
no explanation. But when we find 
two creatures like P. statices and 
P. globular ice coinciding in all re- 
spects, — with the exception of one 
trifling distinction, — we begin to feel 
uneasy and enquire, how this 
came about r Eut tenfold more are 
we staggered in the orthodox belief, 
when we find that there are two 
such insects as A. Tridens and Pst 
which are absolutely indistinguishable 
except in the larva state ! Still we 
might even yet survive the shock if 
it were not for a still more startling 
fact, Larvae apparently exactly the 
same, will produce insects far more 
unlike in appearance than A. Tridens 
and Psi: witness in the same genus 
Ilumicis and Sahcis. Again are we to 
believe that all the genus Coccinella, 
distinguished in many cases by the 
nunfber of spots on the elytra , was 
created complete as we have it now, 
when we know all the time that the 
spots on the wings of some insects of 
the genus Hipparchia &c. vary in 
number in different specimens. ? All 
these, we must own, are difficulties, 
and not difficulties that can bo over- 
come without careful consideration 
and diligent observation. Long, 
indeed, will it bo before all such 
questions are once for all set at rest. 
Meantime the following consideration 
is, we think, worthy the attention 
of our readers. There is nothing 
unphilosophical in supposing that two 
different species bearing the closest 
resemblance to one another, have 
existed from the very foundation of 
the world, and that exactly the same 
distinction that would have held 
good then, will hold good now. For, 
as we said above, the law of similarity 
is a fundamental law of Nature, on 
which, indeed, the whole theory of 
classification is based. For the greater 
or less degree of separation indicated 
by the terms, class, order, group, 
family, genus, and species, is 
nothing else than a greater or less 
degree of resemblance. And assuredly 
no logical reason can be brought 
forward to show why a near resem- 
blance may not be just as constant as 
a more remote one. 
The Weekly Entomologist may be 
obtained of Mr. T. Blackburn, 
Eowdon, Cheshire, by post, price 
Three Shillings and Three Pence 
per quarter, prepaid. 
Also of C. Andrew, 129 High St. 
Cheltenham, J. Brown, 2 Collingate, 
York, S. Styles. 163, North St. 
Brighton, J. E. Robson, Queen St., 
Hartlepool. 
Complete sets of the Weekly En- 
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numbers) may still be had. Price 
{post free) Two shillings and sixpence. 
Price of number 1, fourpence, — the 
other numbers Twopence each. 
All communications to be addressed 
to* Mr. T. Blackburn, Bowdon, 
Cheshire. No notice will be taken of 
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