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we should not write the name with a small letter because of its 

 being an adjective. Argyniiis stands for the surname and 

 Diana for the christian name. If the name of a person, when 

 applied to a species, is not a proper noun, then it is a common 

 noun, and in most cases could have no meaning ; in fact, would be 

 nonsense. If Diana in such usage is not the name of the goddess, 

 then it is no word at all, but a chance collection of letters, and 

 we might as well spell it backward and say Argynnis anaid. 



2. The usage is NOT a recent one. Linnaeus uses capital 

 initials for all proper names ; also for such names as Qiiercus, 

 Pint, Urticce, Caricce ; but for such as crepuscularis, ocellata, not; 

 apparently excluding adjectives. 



Fabricius, in usage, follows Linnsus. 



Kirby, so late as 1871, Suppl't 1877, and Staudinger, 1871, 

 use capitals for all names. So does Hewitson (Exotics); and 

 Felder (Spec. Lep.). Westwood (Drury) for all names, except 

 adjectives. Boisduval, in Spec. Gen., and Ind. Meth. gives cap- 

 itals for all names; in Lep. de la Cal., adjectives all given with 

 small initials. Harris, Ins. Inj., has proper names in caps., adjec- 

 tives not, but scniidca has small initials, though comma and mter- 

 rogationis have large, so that I do not discover any fixed rule. 

 The Ent. Mo. Mag., from first to latest volume, for all orders, 

 capitalizes proper names used for species. 



The Rules of British Assn. on Nomenclature are silent on 

 this point. 



The fact is, the usage which Prof. Riley advocates is the 

 innovation, and so far as relates to names of persons, it is a very 

 recent one, and but partially prevalent. There is no " tendency 

 in that direction." Some persons are always to be found who 

 are ready to jump at any new thing. I could instance several 

 recent entomological fashions. In the present case, some one has 

 started the usage of a small initial letter, and has found his fol- 

 lowers. By and by the fashion will set in some other direction, 

 perhaps to old English initials. Who can tell? But many 

 persons do not shift about with every wind. 



As to calling the old way " vicious," why may I not as 

 sensibly call the new way •' vile ?" I do, indeed, detest and 

 abominate it, and when the genus name is also given with a small 

 mitial, words cannot express my sense of the iniquity. As to a 

 small initial letter '' facilitating study and thought," as if it were 

 a little pill to be taken after meals, that is beyond my comprehen- 

 sion. I may as reasonably say that the use of small letters where 

 they ought not to be, making me mad at the perversity of the 

 editors who use them, distracts my mind and impairs my mental 

 digestion. Therefore, if Prof. Riley would have kind considera- 

 tion in such cases as mine, and would desire to facilitate study 

 and thought, while avoiding what is " confusing," I beg that he 



