•' NOMENOLATUKE, ETC., AT THE CONGRESS. 207 



This Resolution was presented in due course at the International 

 Congress with the results shown in our Reports from various 

 contributors. 



"Nomenclature," etc., at the Congress. 



By G. T. BETHUNE-BAKER, F.L.S., F.Z.S., F.E.S. 

 The second International Congress of Entomology has come and 

 gone, and we believe that the universal verdict of all present will be 

 that it was an unqualified success, both from the scientific as well as 

 from the social point of view. The arrangements for the meetings 

 and for recreation were all that could be desired, the only drawback 

 being the fact that Zeus must have thought we were getting too god- 

 like in our depth of knowledge and that therefore he would open the 

 windows of heaven in an attempt to drown us ; fortunately Mother 

 Earth came to the rescue of her sons and swallowed up the floods as 

 they descended. The resolution of the Entomological Society of 

 London and the paper by the Rev. G. Wheeler were taken with 

 Monsieur Oberthur's and Mr. Prout's papers at the sectional meeting 

 on the Tuesday afternoon, instead of in the morning of that day at the 

 general meeting. The alteration was a wise one, for it focussed the 

 more controversial aspects of Nomenclature into a definite point and 

 all the advocates of the subject heard each other. The resolution from 

 our London Society was referred to the Executive Committee to 

 report on at the General Meeting. Mr. Wheeler's paper followed, but 

 time forbad discussion on it, although afterwards several of our 

 colleagues from across the water expressed themselves entirely 

 sympathetic with many of the suggestions contained therein — this 

 being especially the case with the delegates from the other side of the 

 Atlantic. Monsieur Charles Oberthur came next, on the subject he has 

 made his own, " Pas de bonne figure <i I'appui d'une description, pas 

 de nom valable." We fail to find words to describe the delightful 

 oratory of our revered French " Father in Entomology." A page of 

 notes (not long ones) lay before him but were rarely referred to as the 

 eloquent scientist poured forth in most graceful and beautiful language 

 the theme so dear to his heart. The speech (I might describe it with- 

 out fear of dissent as the speech of the Congress) was a long one, but 

 not a moment too long, as was shown by the long continued round of 

 applause that greeted him as he resumed his seat. Mr. Prout's paper, 

 read by the Rev. K. St. Aubyn Rogers, followed, taking the other side 

 of the question, but when this was finished there was only time to 

 discuss the Entomological Society's resolution with the result already 

 stated. The discussion on the other papers was unfortunately cut 

 short by that most rigid of all timekeepers — the clock — and no action 

 was taken by the meeting ; this no doubt partly arose from the feeling 

 that all matters of detail had better be left to the International 

 Committee to deal with. 



On the Thursday afternoon Monsieur Olivier presided over the 

 second meeting devoted to " Nomenclature," the first paper being that 

 by Dr. Horn of Berlin, a protest against making any exceptions to the 

 law of Priority. Dr. Horn also spoke as a master of his subject and one 

 wished one could follow him in the details of the matter, but one's 

 knowledge of German, alas ! only enabled one to grasp the main 



