14 



endeavour to cause the Government authorities to give proper attention to this most im- 

 portant subject. 



The minutes of the last meeting held in Detroit were read by the Secretary, C. V. 

 Kiley, and approved. 



The consideration of reports of committees was postponed, owing to the non-arrival of 

 gome of the members. 



Mr. Eiley made some remarks upon the variation in the venation of the wings of 

 Anisoptenjx po7netaria (or A. autumnata), and exhibited mounted preparations of wings of 

 this insect differing greatly from the figures in Dr. Packard's new work. 



Mr. Grote considered the variation of neuration in the GeometridiB as of no great 

 value as a specific distinction. 



Mr. Riley said that he had scarcely ever raised a large number of forms from the egg 

 without finding that in the imago state there appeared to be more than one so-called 

 species. Whenever he used large quantities of material he found this result. He thought, 

 therefore, that writers when describing species should always state the number of speci- 

 mens they had before them. 



Dr. Hagen then read a valuable paper " On Genera," at the conclusion of which he 

 was warmly applauded. 



On motion of Mr. Grote, the Report of the Committee on Nomenclature was then 

 taken up, when Mr. Riley read a majority report of the committee. 



Mr. Scudder did not approve of the course taken in reference to the rules on nomen- 

 clature which had been presented, and thought that members of the committee had ex- 

 ceeded their instructions, and desired that the resolution passed at the last meeting, 

 appointing the committee and defining its duties, be read. He thought that the opinions 

 of leading naturalists on this subject should have been gathered and compared. 



The resolution giving instructions to the committee was read as follows : " That the 

 Club appoint a committee of five to prepare and present to the Club at its next annual 

 meeting a compendium of the views of the leading Entomologists of the country upon 

 points which, in their judgment, require elucidation, and also to present a series of reso- 

 lutions touching such points, in order that intelligent discussion may be had upon them 

 and some general agreement, if possible, arrived at." 



Mr. Riley urged as reasons why a majority report had been presented, the difficulty 

 of getting the members of the committee together, and the urgent necessity that some 

 action should be taken in the matter ^vithout further delay. 



Mr. Saunders supported these views, and urged that the opinions of many of the 

 leading Entomologi: ts on the subject of nomenclature had been given in the pages of the 

 Canadian Eniomolocjia. i ' jing the past year, while others had expressed their views by 

 letter to members of the c x. 'uittee ; and seeing that there had been no opportunity for 

 the committee to meet togethc!' v. a whole, he thought it desirable that these resolutions, 

 which had been endorsed l)y a maj > tv, should be presented as a guide to the discussions 

 which might take place on the subject. 



Mr. Scudder did not think this a proptu' time or place for the introduction of such 

 rules ; he fully agreed, however, that it was very desirable to establish stability in 

 nomenclature. 



Mr. Mann regarded Mr. Scudder's remarks as a motion to set aside these rules, and 

 as such was prepared to support it. 



Dr. Hagen, in a few words, gave a sketch of the history of nomenclature, showing 

 how tidal waves of new names had been poured from time to time on the Entomological 

 world with the greatest zeal on the part of those who had introduced them ; that in many 

 instances these changes were unnecessary, and produced confusion instead of establishing 

 order. He thought it highly necessary that some understanding should be arrived at 

 among Entomologists which would lead to greater stability in nomenclature. 



Mr. E. B. Reed spoke for those who had comparatively little time to devote to Ento- 

 mology, and thought tliat they were a class who shouM he considered, and that while it 

 was, perhaps, no great task for those who devoted their whole time to Entomological 

 studies to mastir the great number of new generic and specific names from time to time 

 introduced, it was imposing a burden on their less fortunate brethren which was grievous 



