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VOL. VI. LONDON, ONT., NOVEMBER, 1874. No. 11 



ON ENTOMOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE. 



BY JOHN L. LECONTE, M. D., PHILADELPHIA. 



Part I — On fhc Laic of P}'io?-ify. 

 Im Ganzen — haltet eiich an Worte 1 Goethe. ■■' 



The discussions upon the subject of nomenclature in Zoology, and 

 especially in the department of Entomology, have recently become very 

 perplexing to American students. ]Many who have been unable 

 either by want of time or lack of opportunity, to consult old works, which 

 are to be found in but few libraries, are called upon suddenly to decide 

 for themselves, whether they will or will not adopt changes in the names 

 of some of the most familiar and best known objects. 



To all such I have but two words of advice : Resist innovation, unless 

 the innovator presents to you the reasons for his proposed change, with 

 such force as to convince your judgment. Disregard the Mephistophelean 

 counsel, in the motto above cited. Use the words only to acquire and 

 convey accurately your knowledge of things : but never believe that the 

 word is superior to the thing which it represents. Thus will you avoid 

 scholasticism, one of the great abysses of thought into which the seeker 

 after truth is liable to fall. 



With a view to guide the thoughts of those of my readers who have 

 paid heretofore but little attention to this very troublesome subject, in 

 such manner that they may be able to form independent opinions, I have 

 endeavored in this essay to place briefly before them the canons upon 

 which all action in regard to nomenclature are at the present time 

 supposed to be based. And to these canons I have appended short 



On words let your attention centre. B. Taylor's Faust, i, 110. 



