154 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



venation. Secondaries yellowish hyaline, with a broad black border 

 which is toothed on its inner edge. Expanse, 43 inillim. 



One male specimen from Moupin, taken in June. Allied to 

 S. p&scus, Leech. 



Habitat. Western China. 



Syntomis leucoma, sp. n. 

 Frons, tegulse, and fore tibias white ; thorax and abdomen black, 

 the latter with seven yellow bands, the last two of which are almost 

 confluent. Primaries hyaline, venation black ; there is a black spot at 

 outer extremity of cell, and this is united by a bar with the broad 

 apical portion of the black outer marginal border ; the latter is toothed 

 at veins 2 and 3; there is a curved black streak along inner margin. 

 Secondaries hyaline, with black outer border which is broadest at apex. 

 Expanse, 28 millim. 



One male specimen from Omei-shan, taken in June. 

 Habitat. Western China. 



SOME CHANGES in the NOMENCLATIVE and ARRANGE- 

 MENT of BRITISH LEPLDOPTERA-HETEROCERA. 



Dr. Sharp says (' Insects,' pt. i. p. 171) : — " It is estimated 

 that about 250,000 species [of insects] have been already described 

 and have had scientific names given to them, and it is considered 

 that this is probably only about one-tenth of those that really 

 exist. The classification in a comprehensible manner of such an 

 enormous number of forms is, it will be readily understood, a 

 matter of great difficulty. Several methods or schemes have 

 since the time of Linnaeus been devised for the purpose, but . . . 

 most of them have fallen into disuse, and have only an historical 

 interest. Even at present there exists, however, considerable 

 diversity of opinion on the question of classification, due in part 

 to the fact that some naturalists take the structure of the perfect 

 or adult insect as the basis of their arrangement, while others 

 prefer to treat the steps or processes by which the structure is 

 attained as being of primary importance." 



Entomological science, it must he admitted, has made enor- 

 mous strides, and at the present time our knowledge of the Order 

 Lepidoptera is far greater than it was, say, even ten years ago. 

 We must, however, still ask ourselves whether it is yet advisable 

 for us to break away from the old system of arrangement and to 

 adopt either of the others that have been submitted to us. The 

 time will come, no doubt, when a change will have to be made, 

 but this will hardly be until a system has been devised that from 

 its thoroughness shall command universal acceptance. 



The majority of lepidopterists in this country are probably 



