€\)t Canadian (fotomobgist 



VOL. XI. LONDON, ONT., APRIL, 1879. No. 4 



THE SCIENTIFIC NAMES OF INSECTS. 



BY PROF. E. W. CLAYPOLEj B. A., B. SC. (LONDON) ANTIOCH COLL., OHIO. 



E\ ery eftbrt to render the present hotch-potch of Entomological names 

 more correct and elegant is welcome to students of the Natural Sciences 

 whose knowledge of the classic tongues is sufficient to render the ear 

 sensitive to the grating jargon of many of our so-called Latin terms. I 

 was therefore pleased to see Mr. Hulst's article in a late number of the 

 Canadian Entomologist. He has raised one point that has been little 

 noticed, but well deserves attention. 



Having had some experience in the difficulties of scientific termin- 

 ology, especially when engaged in drawing up a chapter on the subject for 

 Mr. Millet's Catalogue of North American Fossils, I am induced to send 

 a few lines on the subject. 



With almost all Mr. Hulst's remarks I fully agree. On one point, 

 however, I think that to follow out the advice given would lead to very 

 great confusion. This would nevertheless be no valid objection were the 

 advice itself beyond all question sound. But the argument supporting it 

 appears to me not so. I refer to the following passage : "A feminine 

 name must not be joined to a masculine noun. It is just the same as 

 saying 'the girl John' to utter such a combination as Melitaea phaethon" 

 (not phaeton) " or Danais archippus. We must or ought to write and say 

 Melitaea phaethotia " (not phaetona) •'' Danais a/r/iippa, and so on 

 through the list." 



So long is the list of scientific names that would come under con- 

 demnation were the sentence here pronounced carried into effect, that it 

 is worth while to consider if it is absolutely necessary to enforce so stern 

 a decree to the very letter. 



