TWO ENTOMOLOGICAL ANTIQUES. 191 



academy of sciences. Thus would they at one and the same time 

 enrich the science of natural history, and transmit their names to 

 posterity with honour." 



The other " antique " is The Aurelian''s Vade Mecim, by Matthew 

 Martin of Exeter, in which city it was printed, the date of publication 

 being 1785. This is a list of plants, arranged in the alphabetical order 

 of their vernacular names, with the Linntean names appended . Under 

 each plant are arranged the species of Lepidoptera whose larvfB are 

 stated to feed upon it. Of these the Linnasan name is given in one 

 column, the vernacular (where such exists) in another, and in a third 

 the initial of the author from whom the information has been derived ; 

 for the work is a compilation, and does not embody the results of the 

 compiler's own experience. He tells us that he has consulted the 

 writings of Linnajus, Ray, Reaumur, Geoffroy, Berkenhout, Withering 

 (botanical), Harris and Engramelle. There are some interesting ver- 

 nacular names of plants, which seem to have been lost in the century that 

 has since elapsed. Chenopodium is Elite ; Chaeropliyllum si/lvestre, Cicely ; 

 Lemna, Duckmeat ; Triticum repens, Quich-grass. There are, too, some 

 interesting vernacular names of insects : Phalena antiqua, is the White- 

 spot Tussock moth ; Ph. chrysitis, the Green Brazen moth ; Ph. qucrcus, 

 the Great Egger moth ; Ph. lacertinaria, the Wild Rose moth ; Ph. 

 hctnlaria, the Spotted Elm moth ; Pap. ruhi, the Green butterfly ; Ph. 

 oxyacanthae, the Ealing moth ; Sph. atropos, the Bee Tiger Hawk 

 moth ; Pap. semele, the Black-eyed Marble butterfly ; Pap. liicina, the 

 Small Fritillary butterfly; Ph. libatrix, the Furbelow moth; Pap. 

 Camilla, the White Admirable butterfly ; Pap. atalanta, the Admirable 

 butterfly ; Ph. hmnuli, the Otter moth ; Ph. syringaria, the Richmond 

 moth ; Pap. malcae, the Brown March butterfly ; Pap. antiopa, the 

 Willow butterfly. As regards the identification of the Linna3an names, 

 the author followed the usage of his time, and seems to have taken 

 Harris as his guide. The following are instances of mistaken identity : — 

 Butterflies: argus is used for (=:) what we now know as teams; 

 virgaureae = phloeas ; maera = megaera ; inegaera = tithonus ; ma- 

 turna = athalia ; Camilla =^ sybilla. There was at that time no doubt 

 about the identity of Pap. malvae, Linn ; the history of the subsequent 

 confusion of that identity is an interesting chapter which, some day, 

 may be worth elucidating. My knowledge of moth-synonymy is not 

 suliicient to enable me to trace the identity of the moths. It seems, 

 however, from its vernacular name of the Yellow-tail moth, that 

 our auriflua was then supjjosed to be chrysorrhoea, Linn. With 

 regard to food-plants : Ph. aesculi is to be found in alder, ajij^le 

 (within the branches), ash (within the bodies in nurseries), horse- 

 chestnut, jDcar (inside of branches ?), and jDrivet (do.) ; for Paj). 

 machaon, the following are mentioned : — Angelica, buruet saxifrage, 

 carrot, fennel, hemlock, milky parsley, rue and wild si^igncl ; Pajj. 

 ruhi is said to feed on the buds of bramble ; Ph. lapella, within the seeds 

 of burdock ; on the authority of Linnaeus, Ph. pisi is allotted cucumber 

 as a food-plant, but there is evidently a doubt about the accuracy of 

 this, as it is added in brackets (caciimere, L., Fruit ?) ; Ph. hecta, is said 

 to feed on the roots of grass, and Ph. serratella, within the leaves of 

 pear, in a tufted covering. 



