( ^'^ ) 



or variety by ;i C(imma from the specific or varietal name. Whei], however, an 

 author cited by us deals with an insect under the name which has been given 

 to it by anotlier antlior, we pnt a comma iti order to indicate that the ([noting 

 writer is not the author of the res])ective species ; we quote for example Papilio 

 meituioH L., but P. nu'inrioii^ ('mm., the latter quotation being' an abbreviation for 

 P. mcmnoii L., Cram. 



If we have understood that a classification of animals is impossible without 

 acce])ting a regulated nomenclature, we must consequently also admit that it is the 

 stability of names which is most desirable. Tlie first step to this stability of 

 nomenclature is taken by accepting the law of strict priority. It is j)erhaps due 

 to the enormous number of forms of insect life which wholly occupy the time of 

 entomologists, and render alterations of names very objectionable to them, that so 

 many pajiers have been written by entomologists against the strict application of 

 the law of priority and in favour of the names "generally in use" (cf. (Juenee, 

 yoctmlitps, 1852; Be.rl. Ent. Zdi. II. 1858; Lewis, Proc. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1875: 

 etc., etc.). The first name which a Papilio has received is applied to it in this 

 revision, whether the name be correctly spelt or not, whether its meaning applies to 

 the characters of the insect, or whether the name is confusing. A word pul)lished as 

 the name of an animal is from the date of publication * fixed for science: nobody 

 dare make alterations of the word in single cases ; only such alterations must be 

 allowed as ai)])ly to all names of the same category, either to all generic or to 

 all specific names. There are four general rules according to which the specific 

 and varietal names have been altered in this pajjer : — 



1. All the specific and varietal names have to be treated, like the generic terms, 

 as one word. Papilio van rie Polli has been altered into P. taivlepnlli. 



2. All the spi'cific and varietal names have to be written with small initials in 

 order to distinguish them from the generic terms. 



3. All the specific and varietal names which are Latin adjectives or can be 

 treated as such have to receive a masculine ending, because Papilin is masculine- 

 Barbaric names, which are so much in favour among modern entomologists, cannot 

 be altered. Papilio cheiitsoiiq OVierth. remains ekentsong, P. )ie~nhualco>/otl Strecker 

 remains nezahwalcoyoll. 



4. All the specific and varietal names derived from non-Latin names of persons 

 and standing in genitive form have to be formed so that one '• /" only is added to 

 the name of the person. Papilio harjenii has been altered into P. hagem, P. alber- 

 tisii into P. albertisi ; P. heccarii, of course, remains beccarii. 



All other alterations have been objected to in this revision. 



Notwithstanding that the first name given to a Papilio has been generally 

 applied, we had to replace some names by others in such cases where the same name 

 occurred among forms of the same species (P. biitlcri, n. 1 39 ; P. mi'dor, n. '.)5), or closely 

 allied species which will certainly come under one generic term in the final generic 

 revision of the Papilionidae (Troides hypolitux celebensis, n. 9; T. oblonyomaculatm 

 celcbensifi, n. 18). 1 am aware that certain entomologists will not approve- of these 



* Thouj^h every editor nowadays ought to know that it is very importiint to give the exact date ot issue 

 of a work, there appear nevertheless many papera wliich are not dated or bear a wrong date ; and it i s 

 very cuiious to see that the wrong date is alway.s previous to the e.^act date of issue : see Abhaiull. u 

 Biru-hir 3fm. Dmilen ; Moore, Lep. Imlicii : Tijdwhi: v. Ent. ; Hull. Soc. Ent. de Francr ; and others. 

 Very inconvenient for quotiitions are those works which adopt for every number of a volume, or for every 

 genus dealt with, a separate numbering of the pages ; see Abltandl. u. Jierichtc Mm. DrcMhn ; Grose 

 Smith & Kirliy, Rhoi>. Exot. 



