102 EUD^MONIA JEHOVAH. 



Eudcemonia Semiramis, Hubner, Verzeichnisz Bekanuter Schmetterlinge, 151, 1585 (1816) 



Walker, Cat. B. M., VI, p. 1265 (1855). 

 Copiojjteryx Semiramis, Duncan, Naturalists' Library, VII, 125 (1841). 

 Eudcemonia Phoenix, DeyroUe, in Maassen's Beitrage zur Schmetterlingskunde, Heft I, fio-. 5 ? 



figs. 6, 7, & (1869). Ann. de. la. Soc. Ent. Belg., T. XII, 1 (1869). 

 Arida Phceni.r, Felder, Novara, T. 92, 1 ?. 

 Deeceto, Maassen, Beitrage Schmett., figs. 13, 14, d (1872). 



Since the publication of this species there have been objections urged to the specific name bywhicli I have designated it, and in some 

 few instances from sources for which I have every consideration, but in the major part from those whose good or ill opinion weighs alike 

 with me ; to the former only are my present words addressed. 



One friend, in objecting, writes thus: "The name brings up to serious and contemplative minds everrthing that is sacred ;" if 

 .such be the case, then indeed am I happy in my selection, for methinks anything that would lead us to'think of the Creator, and 

 would take our thoughts away from the contemplsition of the mimes with which he has peopled the earth, cannot but be well ; and what 

 better than to reflect on sacred things,— on the evidences of the majesty and power of the Supreme Being? Even as I write, thoughts 

 arise of Nineveh in her magniticence, of her utter destruction, of the writing by an unearthly hand on the wall in the Babvlonic palace; 

 and visions of old Egypt's temples rise up— of the first-born smitten, in that awful night by the death-Angel's hand, in every home 

 throughout the land— of the children of Israel guided by the fiery pillar— of the destruction of Pharaoh's armv— of the Pyramids of 

 Cheops, of Karnak, and of their desolation— of the researches of ChampoUion and Gliddon, of the quiet resting-place of the latter in 

 his vault in Laurel Hill Cemetery, where he has meet company in Drs. Morton, Wilson and Kane. 



Why may not the Hebrew word, used to designate the Supreme Being, be bestowed on a species as well a,s the Hindostanee, which 

 latter has several times been applied to species* and once to a genus ?t Is it because our conventional ears are more familiar with the 

 former than with the latter? Had I used the term Pay-ah-law'yah, it is scarcely likely that much objection would have been raised, 

 and yet this is the word used by Dr. .Judson to express " .Jehovah " in his translation of the sacred writings into the Burman language. 



It certainly cannot be more ofl'ensive to apply sacred names to animals than to persons, and in Spanish countries almost every 

 tenth person is surnamed .Jesus, pronounced by them, Hezoos ; this may sound shockinglv irreverent to the fastidious ears of Americans, 

 but I doubt much if the Hidalgoes who bear the name of the second person of the Godhead would feel at all elated to know that their 

 sponsors had acted with irreverence, and that they themselves, on accoimt of their names, were living offenses against decency and good 

 taste, — and they, too, the most devout and punctilious people on the face of the earth. 



That there should be any reasonable objection to the bestowal of the Creator's name on one of the most interesting of Hie works, 

 I cannot possibly surmise, and the only cause of oftense, in scientific nomenclature, is given where the terms are orthographical ly or 

 ■etyraologically incorrect, or where nature's noble works are degraded to the vile purpose of charioting into notice the names of obscure 

 individuals whose only merit in the case was in giving the describer a dinner or lending him monev ; or what is worse still, to attach 

 to scientific objects the names of political demagogues; this is, without doubt, the vilest of all, especially in our own country where 

 political eminence is nov.- solely attained by the most corrupt means, and success ensured onlv bv the sacrifice of every principle of 

 Jionour and honesty. 



There are names enough still left in the grand annals of past history and science, without having recourse to those of persons who, 

 however estimable, have no claims for scientific honours. 



There have been hints that, notwithstanding the claims of priority, the specific name I have used will not be accepted ; should 

 such be the case, and the name employed by me ignored, it matters nothing, as the species is now known and mv work as regards it 

 completed in tlie figuring and description, as far, at least, as at present possible to me, and whether it be known hereafter by the 

 name I have used, or by another, can be of no possible moment. 



As genera are each year becoming more and more divided and sub-divided, some aspirant for scientific fame may make of each 

 species, comprised at present in Euda2mt)nia, a new genus, as there is, without doubt, the difference of a brush-hair in the details of 

 the several specias ; of course, the author of the new arrangement would place his own name to the combination, and in that case the 

 present species would be the only instance in which the name of the compiler would be secondary to that of the object, though, of 

 course, no one coiild doubt that even then the great synonyraist would make a mental reservation in favour of his own superiority. 



In a recent interesting paper on Ent. nomenclature by Dr. J. Leconte, in that influential organ, the Canadian Entomologist, the 

 author concludes with the following : " Unfortunately, under the influence of personal peculiarities, the excitement of political 

 struggles," etc., " names are sometimes proposed which are in the highest degree ofl(?nsive."t After the word " offensive " is an asterisk 

 (*) which directs us to a foot-note by Mr. Wm. Saunders, the able editor of the periodical, who doubtless fearing that the reader might 

 suppose the author alluded to such names as Homoptera Saunder.sii, Leucanthiza Saundersella, and others of the same nature, gives as 

 the benefit of his conjecture, that "the author here evidently alludes to such names as Pleocoma Staff, Eudsemonia .Jehovah, and others 

 of the same nature." 



Professor Huxley somewhere says: "Happily, the reputation and i^al success of a votary of the physical .sciences are now 



SAM I A EURYALUS. Boisduval. 



Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. Ill, 2me Ser. xxxii (1855). 



Morris, Cat. Lep. N. Am., p. 21 (1860). 



Walker, C. B. M., part XXXII, p. 525 (18651. 



Samia Euryale, Packard, Proceedings Ent. Soc. Phil., Vol. Ill, p. 380 (1864). 



Sattirnia Ceanolhi, Behr, Proc. California Academy of Sciences, Vol. Ill, part IV (previous to September, 1867). 



Platysamia Califm-nica, Grote. 



* Ilerda Brahma, Moore, Cat. Lep., E. I. C, I, p. 29, T. 1 (1857). 



Papilio Braina, Guerin, Rev. Zool., p. 43, T. 1 (1840). 

 t Krahma'a, Walker, C. B. M., VI, p. 1315. 

 X 1 have only quoted portions of the two concluding paragraphs of the article. 



