20G [February, 



are twice as long as the thorax, with the eeveuth stria faiuter than 

 the others, aud abbreviated one-fifth before the base ; w'hile in T. Le- 

 coiitus, the seventh stria attains the base, and the elytra have not 

 quite 5 : 3 of the length of the thorax. 



I have ventured to name this species in honour of the distinguished 

 entomologist, J. L. Leconte ; and I have used the trivial word Lecontus, 

 in preference to Lecontci, a word of which the pronunciation is at least 

 ambiguous. 



Thoriihill, Dumfries : 



January B>th, 1875. 



On the synonymy of Pleocoma staff, Schaiifuss. — In tlie paper above alluded to 

 (or rather immediately following it), will be found a notice by Dr. Leconte on the 

 species of the remarkable genus Pleocoma, and also a description of the larva of one 

 of the species by Baron R. Osten Sacken. 



Leconte describes one of the species of the genus under the name of Pleocoma 

 Eclwardsii, and adds to his description the following observations : — 



" This species is recognizably described, though not propei'ly named, by ]Mr. 

 "Schaufuss (Nunquam Otiosus, vol. ii). The name suggested for it by 

 "Mr. Crotch (Check list', p. 58) is likewise inadmissible, not only because he 

 " gives no reason for its adoption, and because that kind of list is an improper 

 " place for changes in nomenclature, but for the still stronger reason, that it 

 " tends to perpetuate in science the memory of the political venom which 

 " inspired the name given by Mr. Schaufuss. I cannot express myself too 

 " strongly on the necessity of keeping our scientific nomenclature free 

 " from all personal, political, or religious prejudices or expressions of 

 " opinion. Such use of scientific publication, for intruding upon students 

 "of natural history irrelevant views respecting subjects which are not 

 " comprised within -tlie domain of their researches, must be discountenanced." 

 So says the renowned American entomologist ; and I fully agree with his strong 

 expi-essions of opinion on the contemptible natiu'e of motives which prompt the 

 giving of a scientific name under such circumstances as those to which he alludes. 

 But I cannot agree with him in thinking we arc justified iu changing a name so 

 given iu order to mark our displeasure. The name, after it was once given, is dis- 

 joined from the motives that prompted it ; and we may be sure these will be speedily 

 forgotten, or, if remembered, it will be only to call up a smile at the childish im- 

 petuosity of the iiamer. 



The facts of the case are briefly as follows : Schaufuss described in " Nunquam 

 Otiosus " three species of Pleocoma, to one of which he gave the name " P. staff," 

 intending some allusion to the " Prussian general' staff." Crotch, in his Check list of 

 N. American Coleoptera, cites this species in due place as No. 3365, but gives it a new 

 name, viz., " Pleocoma adjurans, Cv." and indicates in an unmistakeable manner the 

 species he intends the name for, by adding " staff] Schauf." as a synonym. Leconte 

 afterwards proposes a third name for the same ^ccies. 



