328 On the recent Change of Form of the Summit of Mont Blanc. 



be difficult to collect the shadow of an assignable cause for 

 the given cognomen. Of the remaining four, Papilio may 

 be said to be rather a generally comprehensive term for the 

 whole set, than a generic distinction for a twentieth part. 

 For the 2nd, Gonopteryx, there is a decided and intelligible 

 meaning in the angular character of the posterior wing. Of the 

 5ih, Leucophasia, it may be observed that it is an intruder of 

 very recent date, a scion separated from the genus Pontia by 

 Mr. Stephens, with an apology stating that it is not without 

 reluctance he adds another generic name to the almost in- 

 finite number with which the pages of entomological works 

 are already filled. With the 18th, Polyommatus, we have no 

 other complaint to find, than a regret that the old and more 

 generally intelligible LinnaBan term multipunctatce was not ad- 

 hered to. 



Much very much more remains to be said, but I fear that 

 I may already have said too much, too much, not to ex- 

 pose these remarks to the reprehension of my brethren far 

 advanced in the flights of science. Too much, to induce in- 

 cipient entomologists to venture further on a study, whose 

 real characters may be found, when further cultivated, to be 

 repulsive or inscrutable. Most truly has the Secretary of the 

 Linnaean Society expressed himself in saying, that "in no de- 

 partment in natural history are the inconveniences arising 

 out of the confusion of analysis and synthesis more felt than 

 in Entomology, it being worse furnished with skilful arrange- 

 ment, owing to attempts which have been made to combine 

 the natural with the artificial systems." The result, he truly 

 adds, will finally be, that instead of making Natural History 

 familiar and popular, it will require the compass of a man's 

 life to master the terms we employ. 



RURALIS. 



L. On the recent Change of Form of the Summit of Mont 

 Blanc. By A CORRESPONDENT. 



HPHE pyramid which was erected on the summit of Mont 

 * Blanc in 1811, by order of Napoleon, has been described 

 as a cross, not only by Mr. Auldjo, but also by Dr. Clark and 

 Captain Sherwill in their account of their ascent in 1825. 

 The fact is, that the cross was a simple pyramid, of which the 

 following are the dimensions. It consisted of four strong posts, 

 squared and closely joined together by eight solid iron hoops, 

 on one of which was engraven the name of Napoleon ; on the 

 second, that of the chief engineer of the district ; and on the 



third, 



