Note 1779 — LETTER XXXV. (continued 2)

MacLeay, Hor. Entomolog. 413—. Mr. MacLeay's opinion seems to receive some confirmation from a circumstance overlooked when the larvæ of insects were treated of above (p. 130—), and to which he alludes (411); namely, that in that state they consist of two segments more than in the imago; these follow the three pedigerous segments, have no pro-legs, and are supposed to belong to the trunk rather than to the abdomen. To make this circumstance bear upon the question, it must be proved that in the perfect insect these segments in some manner become the back of the trunk and bear the wings. This would not be more wonderful than many changes that are known to occur in insects.