1226 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



that the later views are adopted by those to wliom they have a right to 

 look for instruction upon these technical points. Let them, at any rate? 

 be clear in their minds that the changes are in accordance with the existing 

 laws, or let them agitate for such alteration in the current code as will 

 produce legally the modifications they desire. 



Other special cases may arise of still greater difficulty than those I 

 have here discussed. For the proper solution of these, I think the 

 suggestion of Mr. Alfred Wallace* is most valuable. It is that all 

 disputed points in nomenclature should be referred for investigation and 

 decision to a committee of experts. Such a committee could be readily 

 formed in the Entomological Club of the American Association for the 

 Advancement of Science, which would dispassionately determine all 

 questions relating to the progress of the science in North America, and 

 announce their decisions each year. These decisions would, I am 

 •convinced, be cheerfully adopted by most, if not all of those who are 

 occupied in the study of the insects of this continent. 



One more su.sjgestion in conclusion. It is this : That in proportion 

 as the objects become well known, and especially in those species which 

 fortunately possess no synonymy, all reference to authorities should be 

 dropped, except when bibliographical reference to a full description or 

 figure is necessary. \i^ howe\'er, a synonym must be mentioned, let the 

 author of this supplementary name be quoted. 



Should this suggestion be adopted, it will result that the name of the 

 describer will not be unnecessarily connected with the valid name of the 

 species, and one strong support of the small personal vanity which I have 

 criticized in the first part of this essay will be destroyed. Another 

 important result will be that the maker of a synonym will know that his 

 name will be inseparably connected with that synonym, when- 

 ever it is mentioned ; and that, therefore, so far from being an honor, or 

 a recognition of good work, the use of an authority will come to be known 

 as an indication of bad or imperfect work, and the makers of species on 

 hasty study or on defective materials will be discountenanced. 



* Address of the President, Trans. Ent. Soc. London, 1871, Ixviii. 



