G. GENERAL NATURAL HISTORY AND ZOOLOGY. 267 



is to be adopted for a binomial nomenclature, then the sooner 

 the proper name is brought to light and insisted upon as the 

 proper designation of the species, the sooner will the subject 

 be carried beyond the danger of further disturbance. 



It may seem awkward to the present generation of stu- 

 dents, who have become familiar witli certain names, to 

 change them, but their successors will not experience the 

 same difficulty ; and in having the subject settled authorita- 

 tively once for all, they will have occasion to thank the bold 

 innovator who risks the objurgations of his fellows for his 

 daring conduct. IS A, May 1, 1872, 168. 



FLIGHTS OF URANIA LEILUS. 



The Panama Star and Herald records the first arrival on 

 the 2d of April at Panama, on its annual eastern migration, 

 of the beautiful sphinx moth [Urania leilus). The immense 

 flights of this moth, and the extreme regularity of their re- 

 currence year by year, have repeatedly been dwelt upon by 

 the Star, and much interest has been excited as to its start- 

 ing-place and ultimate destination. Panama Star and Her- 

 ald, April, 1872. 



edwards's work ox north American butterflies. 



The ninth number of the illustrated work on the butterflies 

 of North America, in course of publication by Mr. William H. 

 Edwards, has just made its appearance, and we are informed 

 that the tenth number, to appear very shortly, will conclude 

 the first volume. This number, like its predecessors, is ac- 

 companied by a great many quarto plates in the highest 

 style of pictorial excellence, depicting some extremely beau- 

 tiful species and varieties of butterflies. Among these are 

 three varieties of Papilio ajax namely, wdlshii, P. telarno- 

 nides, and marcellus to which we have already referred in 

 a previous number of the "Scientific Intelligence." 



Mr. Edwards, in his paper, makes some judicious remarks 

 upon the uncertainty that exists in regard to the true char- 

 acter of many butterflies, which some naturalists consider as 

 perfectly distinct species, and others as mere varieties. He 

 takes the ground that the only way of coming to a satisfac- 

 tory conclusion is to breed them, and ascertain whether the 

 eggs from the same female develop similar larva) or not, and 



