146 
side of the inferior wings, and that of Aglaia on the other ; thereby proving it 
to be merely a variety: and Haworth mentions “ Detecta Femina Olim D. Wilks, 
at ubi nescio.” 
Sir P. Walker had specimens in his possession, and I saw some large and fine 
Aglaia in the Isle of Arran, but could not take any. Mr. Bree, of Allesley, has 
figured M. Dia , and also two varieties of A. Aglaia , in Loudon, vol. 5, p. 749, 
fig. 122, as Adippef according to the opinion of Mr. Stephens ; but in his own 
(Mr. Bree’s) opinion, Aglaia. Mr. Curtis has a very fine variety of Adippe 
taken, near Colchester, by Dr. Maclean, but it is very distinct from the above. 
I once found the larva of Adippe in the New Forest, June 1st, 1824. I have 
seen the suffusion of black spots in some species so powerful as to lose the 
genuine character so completely as to appear wholly black, instead of fulvous, 
with black spots ( Selene for one). 
On the APPLICATION of the PRINCIPLES of INDUCTION to the 
INVESTIGATION of the VEGETABLE KINGDOM, and the IN¬ 
FERENCES in RELATION to NATURAL THEOLOGY. 
By Robert Dickson, M.D., F.L.S. 
LECTURER ON BOTANY AT ST. GEORGE’S HOSPITAL AND THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, 
WEBB-STREET, LONDON. 
The members of the vegetable kingdom claim our regard, by ministering to 
more of the senses than any other objects of creation. The eye is delighted by 
their symmetry and elegance, as well as by their varied and brilliant hues—the 
touch is sometimes pleased by their smoothness or softness—the smell is regaled 
by their perfume—and the taste gratified by their flavour. 
Yet it is not to be denied that, attractive though they be from thus ministering 
to the external senses of sight, smell, and taste, the degree to which these latter 
are capable of determining the qualities of plants, is vastly inferior to that of the 
animals which feed upon them. Animals, may, indeed, commit an error, and eat 
some poisonous plant; but this is rather to be attributed to their being previously 
affected with some disease, by which the fine sense of smell has been lost, and 
the power of discrimination destroyed, than to an original deficiency of instinct: 
for, as a general rule, animals not only avoid particular plants of a poisonous kind, 
but whole tribes of plants possessed of noxious qualities. Neither oxen, horses, 
pigs, sheep, nor goats will eat a single solanaceous plant (Nightshade tribe) ex- 
