72 THE entomologist's RECORD. 



physician — Nicolans Poda von Nev^haus (1723-1798), Ph.D., was 

 Mathesis Professor in the University of Griitz. Would it be too 

 rash to suggest that Linzie's name " podaliiina " had some punning 

 reference to the name of Poda, and that perhaps Linne had seen 

 Poda's specimen, which might even be " nimotypical."] 



In the year 1763 Scopoli, " Ent. Cam.,'" 167, sp. 445, carefully 

 described and figured. 



" Papilin Fodalirius. 



Roesel. Papil. Diurn. CI. II. Tab. 2. figs. 3. 4. 



P. Poda. Mus. Grrec. p. 62. Sinon. Tab. 2. fig. 1." 



This action may be taken as the selection of Eoesel's figure as the 

 Type of I'apilio pudaliriiis, L., Sep., and the definite sinking of sinon, 

 Poda, as a synonym of podaliriua. Scopoli was the First Reviser and 

 as both podnlirius, L., and sinon, Poda, had the common exponent 

 " Roes. ins. 1. pap. 2. t. 2 " he was certainly justified in this decision, 

 which must be accepted as final. Scopoli seems to have been well- 

 acquainted with podaliriiis, for he writes of its occurrence in Carniola 

 thus : — 



" Apud nos frequens, ccenosis in locis & circa aquas libenter 

 sedens." 



The Type-localities for Papilio podalirius, L., would seem to be 

 Etruria (Libarnum) Ray; Bavaria, lioi-sel ; France, Beaitniur; Africa, 

 Linne; with the added localities Styria (Griitz), Poda; Carniola, 

 ScofxM. 



The word " Nimotypical " has been mentioned above. I have 

 been asked many times the meaning and derivation of this word — it 

 is, doubless, a mere laps, cal., which it is hoped that Dr. Verity will 

 take an early opportunity of explaining. 



[Poda's " Insecta Musei Gnecensis," (1761), is a very rare work. 

 We have three copies in England — Linne's copy in the Library of 

 the Linnean Society; the Hon. Walter Rothschild has a copy in 

 his Museum at Tring ; and the Entomological Society has a copy 

 from the library of Mr. McLachlan.] 



SCIENTIFIC NOTES AND OBSERVATIONS. 



The Species-status and the Species-concept. — In the January 

 number of the Entomological Nctrs, Chas. H. T. Townsend, of Lima, 

 Peru, deals with the old question, " What is a Species?" and it may be 

 interesting to some of our readers to give the Summary of his remarks 

 and conclusions, with their influence on the " vexed question " of 

 Nomenclature. 



1. In old stocks, species have normal values and well defined limits, 

 because evolution has become inactive in those stocks and maturity 

 has been attained by the forms. 



2. In young stocks, the contraction of taxonomic values due to 

 youth restricts the scope of species, and the presence of many tran- 

 sitionals due to active evolution obscures their limits. 



3. Therefore the species-status is not uniform in old and young 

 stocks, and the species-concept must be modified to agree with it. 



4. Though transitionals obscure limiting lines in dead material, 

 species exist in young stocks, and the actual limits of each are such as 

 it makes for itself by the general interbreeding of its constituents 

 under normal conditions. 



