LÉPIDOPTÉROLOGIE COMPARÉE 45 



Then wliy seek to hmder the attainment of this object to which 

 we ail aspire? 



In Brussels, the Congress passed a resolution in favour of the 

 description being accompanied by a figure, and though this was 

 considered to be very useful yet the Congress refrained from 

 making it compulsory. 



On what ground? 



Let it be stated plainly : on the ground of expense and for no 

 other reason. 



But is Science compatible with a miserly spirit of economy? 



Science, that is to say scientihc truth, is obtainable only by the 

 labour of man, whose time and work represent a money value, 

 and by means of money judiciously spent, since money is the priée 

 of every effort, of every attainment. 



We believe that we are not exceeding our right when we demand 

 that a description should not be held valid when dépendant on 

 words only, words too often ill chosen, by means of which it is 

 attempted, generally in vain, to render intelligible détails which 

 a figure alone can convey clearly. Thanks to photography, a figure 

 is within the reach of ail. 



Dr. T. A. Chapman has proposed this minimum of illustration 

 in order to make a description valid. Let us accept it in principle; 

 we shall not find it costly, but let us nevertheless make it a point 

 that the photograph be a really good one, well presented, and, 

 when necessary, that a coloured iconograph be added with a view 

 to convey information which the black and white photograph alone 

 cannot supply. 



With a persévérance and energy justified by the scientific 

 interest at stake, we shall continue to point out that descriptions 

 without figures cannot be accepted as valid, as they are not sufh- 

 ciently expressive and accurately conclusive. 



Multiplying their number is merely increasing the disorder of 

 nomenclature and fostering a state of chaos in Entornology which 

 bids fair to equal the confusion of the legendary Tower of Babel. 



