THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 39 



both are but dimorphic forms of the same species, as I have set forth in 

 C. E., xii., 21. In B. N. A., vol. 2, two plates are devoted to these forms 

 and varieties, and the whole history is given. It is a very curious history 

 too, and one not to be neglected in a work meant for instruction. 



A particularly objectionable feature of the work in hand is the manu- 

 facture of English names for the species, one and all. The custom of 

 applying such names will never become general in this country, and for- 

 tunately. In Europe, before the binomial nomenclature was invented, it 

 was natural that there should be local names for such striking objects as 

 butterflies. A few, some half dozen, European species have become 

 domesticated on this continent, and I have noticed that Americanized 

 English collectors are fond of recalling the vernacular names they knew 

 at home. But even these names have nowhere come to be used com- 

 monly here. Some of our authors, however, have exerted themselves to 

 fix such names on all the American butterflies, and the result is fantastic. 

 The greatest sinner in this respect, I regret to have to say, is Mr. Scudder, 

 but as he has lately announced. Science, No. 1 94, that he regards all names 

 as necessary evils, it would seem to follow that a superfluity of names is 

 an unnecessary evil ; therefore I hope to see these appendages dropped 

 in his forthcoming work. No one but the contrivers use them ; they do 

 not stick to the insect. No better illustration of this could be offered than 

 in Mr. Maynard's book. What Mr. Scudder calls Blue-eyed Grayling, the 

 other calls the Yellow-spotted Wood ; what one calls Eyed Brown, the 

 other Ten-spotted Quaker ! what one calls The Viceroy, the other the 

 Banded Red ; what one calls the Great Spangled Fritillary, the other the 

 Yellow-banded Silver Wing. Now the butterfly last spoken of is known 

 as Argynnis Cybele, the name a beautiful one, by the side of which the 

 appellations above given are as tawdry as they are long-winded. So all 

 through. It is best in Entomology, as in every other kind of learning, 

 that beginners begin right, and as every species has its proper specific 

 name, by which it is universally known, and of which it can never be 

 divested, no elementary work has a right to teach otherwise. 



The descriptions of the insects are well enough, except as to the nerves 

 of the wings. These organs have ages ago received names which have 

 been accepted, and there is no reason whatever for changing them, espe- 

 cially in a work of the character of this one. " Middle " is no more 

 simple than^ " median," and means the same thing ; " upper vein " instead 



