190 THE entomologist's record. 



Wo EJ^l'OJVIOLOQie^L ^r^l'lQlJE^. 



By F. J. BUCKELL, M.B. 



In a volume of oddments, mostly of a scientific nature, whicli some 

 worthy of a century ago had had bound together and which recently 

 came under my notice, were two entomological " antiques." The first 

 of these was the English translation of Fundamenta Fjntomologiae, a work 

 which, although usually bearing the name of Linneeus and published 

 in the seventh volume of that author's Amocnitates Academicae, was 

 really written by one of his pupils, Andrew John Bladh. The trans- 

 lation is by W. Curtis, Apothecary, and bears date 1772. The work is 

 in the nature of an " Introduction to Entomology," and may be taken 

 to represent the scientific knowledge of the time. There were evidently 

 scoffers in existence then as now, for the author thus opens the third 

 section :— " As insects furnish but few of the necessaries of life, the 

 ignorant and uncivilised part of mankind have not scrupled to stigmatise 

 the ingenious enquirers after them with the name of fools, as these 

 animals apjjeared to them altogether contemptible, and deserved to be 

 considered only as jDunishment inflicted on jjarticular countries for the 

 sins of its inhabitants." The author farther on suggests that "if we 

 tmderstood how to apjDly insects properly, we might use them as we do 

 cats against mice, and by attending to the design of Nature, prevent 

 much damage." The importance of method and the advantage of 

 accurate synonymy are insisted ujjon. Next follows a catalogue of the 

 principal authors that have written on insects, in which our countrymen 

 receive dvie recognition. This is succeeded by a descrij)tion of the 

 several parts of an insect, after which the Linna?an classification is 

 explained. Lastly, the sources of the mythological names so largely 

 used by Linnaeus for butterflies are indicated : those apjDlied to the 

 Equites are taken from Trojan historj^, the sable butterflies with red or 

 bloody spots at the basis of tlieir wings receiving the names of the 

 Trojan nobles, while those ornamented with a variety of gay colours 

 were distinguished by the names of the Grecian heroes. The Hdiconii 

 derive their names from the Muses. The names of the sons and 

 daughters of Danaus are bestowed on the JDnnai, " and as these species 

 are sub-divided into two sections, viz. the wliite and parti-coloured, the 

 metaphor is so conducted that the white ones j^reserve the names of the 

 daughters of Danaus, and the j^arti-coloured ones those of the sons of 

 Egyptus," "The names of the fourth section, Nymphales, are taken 

 from various nymjihs of antiquity ; and those of the fifth section, Fleheii, 

 are selected from different men among the ancients, whose names are 

 worthy of remembrance ; so that by this means a knowledge of the 

 ancients may be interspersed, and this agreeable science be made doubly 

 pleasing." The author concludes by earnestly recommending those 

 gentlemen, whose summer residence is in the country, to devote their 

 leisure moments to " the bringing up of the larva? of insects and atten- 

 tively observing their various transformations, their oeconomy in 2>rocur- 

 ing food, their dexterity in preparing lial)itations, and every other thing 

 they are engaged in. By this means many insects and their wonderful 

 properties, M'liich have remained in obscurity from the beginning of 

 time, would be brought to light, more especially if these gentlemen 

 would themselves describe or communicate their discoveries to some 



