IV IKTRODUCTIOK. 



called by different names; and lastly from the dissimilar MS. 

 names which have been applied by various practical entomologists 

 to such species as they have not been able to identify in any printed 

 works. An endeavour to assimilate such discrepancies, and also 

 to render the labours of my countrymen more generally useful, 

 prompted me to attempt the synonymical portion of the Catalogue, 

 in which I have also introduced such MS. names as are in general 

 use in the more extensive collections, so far as circumstances will 

 permit; and also those which I have applied to the apparently un- 

 described s\)ec\es in my own cabinet*, by way of showing the present 

 e.xtent of the various groups. 



Upon the propriety of introducing the MS. names either of 

 genera or species, there is, and probably ever will be, considerable 

 diversity of opinion. Latreille exclaims against the publication of 

 mere generic names without characters, in the following terms : 

 " Je remarque que plusieurs naturalistes s'emiiressent, comme par 

 luie anticipation titulaire, de donner des noms a quelques coupes, 

 qui leur paroissent devoir former denouveaux genres, sans le donner 

 la peine d'en etablir les caracteres. Ces ne sont que de simple in- 

 dications, et qui n'imposent aucune loi." But this celebrated en- 

 tomologist appears to forget that naturalists generally, however 

 zealous in the pursuit of knowledge, have other and more para- 

 mount avocations to follow than those of attending to the minutiae 

 of science, and that all are not equally fortunate with himself in 

 being able to devote their exclusive attention to that branch thereof 

 which their inclination prompts them to study. An individual thus 

 necessarily occupied with the ordinary callings of life, and devotedly 

 attached to the study of natural objects, discovers while arranging 

 a group of animals, a specimen which differs so essentially from the 

 rest in general characters, as to satisfy him that it belongs to a 

 genus whose characters have not been described, and the elaboration 

 of which his want of time alone prevents him from attempting : 

 nevertheless he is desirous of giving it a name by which he may 

 more readily remember it, or register any peculiarities he may have 

 observed relative to its habits, locality, &c., than by attaching a 

 mark or number thereto. Is he not therefore entitled to the merit 

 (if such it be) of discovering the new group; and ought he not to 

 be permitted to apply a name to it, and to publish that name even 

 before his leisure allows him to elaborate its characters? M. La- 

 treille f, I grant, does not deny such right; but merely infers that 



* Excepting to the Hymenoptcra Pupivora, for the reasons stated in 

 the note at p. :54:5, to tlie last section of that order; and to the Hemiptera 

 and Ilomoptcra, from want of time to investigate Uieir contents sufficiently : 

 the number of species in the respective genera is however indicated. 



f 'lliis author in his last work, " Families Naturelles," has himself in- 

 troduced names without distinguishing characters. 



