S. A. Neave 275 



Somewhat similar objections may also be raised to popular names. 

 These are frequently of very local application and may vary considerably 

 within the same country, or the same name may be used in widely 

 separated parts of the English-speaking world for entirely distinct 

 animals or plants. Since it is clear that the use of popular names must 

 be continued under present conditions, some uniformity is highly desir- 

 able. This can only be obtained by the formation of a central body to 

 which lists of local names both of plants and animals in use throughout 

 the English-speaking world could be sent. It Avould be the duty of such 

 a body to collect data as to all the recognised names, to reduce their 

 number to a minimum and to compile a list that authors should agree 

 to use as far as possible. The names selected should, where practicable, 

 be informative and have some educational value for the layman. 



In this respect much advantage might be gained in the entomological 

 j&eld if some agreement could be come to as to the popular names to 

 be applied to the larval stages of different orders of insects: e.g. the 

 restriction of "caterpillar" to the Lepidopterous larva, of "maggot" to 

 the Dipterous and of "grub" to the Coleopterous. The term "worm," 

 though objectionable as having a precise zoological significance, is in very 

 general use especially in connection wnth Lepidopterous larvae infesting 

 cotton-bolls and might be retained in this restricted sense, but limited 

 to it. The use of misleading names such as "white ants" for "termites" 

 should be avoided altogether. Names such as "Imported Cabbage 

 Worm" used in North America for Pieris rapae are unsatisfactory as 

 being only applicable to one part of the English-speaking world, and 

 "European Cabbage Caterpillar" would be better. Similar adjustments 

 of popular names among plants are advisable in the botanical field, and 

 many cases will at once occur to the economic botanist. 



To recapitulate, the weight of evidence goes to show that the use 

 of both scientific and popular names is necessary under present con- 

 ditions; there are difficulties inherent in the use of either, but these 

 arise from the same cause, i.e. lack of uniformity and agreement on the 

 subject among workers throughout the world; these difficulties can and 

 should be remedied to a considerable extent. 



