253 



Noctua atriplicis. — I possess a specimen taken at Stilton, or at Whittlesea 

 Mere. 



Diptera. — Scatophaga scybalaria. — This insect, which is figured by Cur- 

 tis, has been taken in the Isle of Man, by the late Captain Blomer, and in Ire- 

 land, by Mr. Haliday. 



Hemiptera. — Cicada Anglica. — This insect, which is figured by Curtis, in 

 pi. 392, is considered as synonymous with the C. hxmatodes of Linne. The 

 specimen labelled C. hcernatodes in the Linnean cabinet is very similar, but has 

 no red on the thorax. On the ticket attached to it is written " hoematodes of the 

 German Naturalists, Br. Clark," but this is somewhat doubtful. 



Fulgora Europ&a — This insect is figured by Donovan, who says it was 

 found in Wales, by Hudson and Yeats, but it is now doubted as being British. 

 This was also the case with the Chrysomela cerealis, which had formerly been 

 taken by Hudson also, but was likewise doubted ; but many specimens have been 

 captured latterly, on Snowdon and other mountains in Wales, thus confirming 

 Hudson's previous discovery : and this being the case, we may certainly expect 

 that the Fulgora will come to light. 



Naucoris aestivalis. — This insect, I understand, has been taken by Weaver, of 

 Birmingham, in Sutton Park. I have not seen it. 



MR. SWAINSON'S REMARKS ON VERNACULAR 

 NOMENCLATURE EXAMINED. 



By C harles Thorold Wood, Esq. 



Now that nomenclature is receiving, on all sides, that consideration which, 

 till lately, has been so unaccountably denied it, we may expect that ere long some 

 fixed principles will be adopted, by which the path of those who now grope their 

 way in outer darkness may be rendered smooth and easy, and that it will be 

 entirely cleared of those perplexities which are so annoying to the student and the 

 amateur. I propose, in this paper, to examine the objections to improvements in 

 the vernacular nomenclature of birds, as set forth by Mr. Swainson, which, if left 

 unanswered, might have considerable influence in retarding terminological reform. 



In an excellent review of The Classification of Birds, in the last No. of The 

 Naturalist, the reviewer observes, that Mr. Swainson has not been happy in his 

 objections to a reform in nomenclature : and agreeing as I do in this remark, I 

 shall now proceed to prove it. Mr. Swainson prefaces his observations as follows ; 



