132 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



butterflies called " flavis " on the same page. The reference to 

 Schaeffer is wrong, and S. figures both species on one plate. Scopoli 

 describes edusa, auct., treating Roesel's as the typical figure, but calls 

 hyale, auct., the female. Geoffroy also describes edusa, quoting Petiver's 

 and Roesel's figures, and making hyale, auct., var. 0. We thus see that 

 while the authors of the Linnean period confounded both species, they 

 invariably gave C. edusa the foremost place, and quoted its figures as 

 typical of hyale, Linn. ; and Linne himself referred to their works as 

 representing his species. I am still of opinion that these figures must 

 be recognized as typical of the true 0. hyale, Linn. L.'s own descrip- 

 tions I have discussed in full elsewhere. — W. F. Kirby. 



Preservation of Larvae. — The following method of preserving 

 larvae is described by Mr. C. Abbott Davis in the March number of 

 ' Entomological News ' : — " Drop the larvae as soon as collected into a 

 pint or quart jar of 2 per cent, formalin solution. Date the same and 

 let it stand for a week. Remove the larvae, putting several of each 

 species into a 6 or 8 dr. ' shell bottle,' filling with fresh 2 per cent, 

 formalin. Soak all corks in paraffin and keep bottle upright." The 

 writer states that he has been especially successful with light green 

 Sphingidae and Bombycidae, some of which were treated in July, 1897, 

 and are in perfect condition at the present time. He adds, "Live 

 pupae may be injected and placed in the same bottles, making an 

 inexpensive but beautiful collection." 



The Nomenclature of British Butterflies. — Mr. H. J. Elwes, 

 writing on this subject (Ent. Rec. xi. 78), observes :— -" Personally, I 

 hold the opinion that it is impossible to apply the rules of priority 

 strictly, and that it is much better to use a specific name long applied, 

 and generally known to Continental as well as British entomologists, 

 than to attempt to make changes on account of doubtful and often 

 trivial questions of priority or identification." With regard to the 

 question of uniformity in nomenclature, Mr. Elwes suggests that the 

 London Entomological Society should appoint a committee to consider 

 the matter. Referring to generic names as used by Staudinger and in 

 the ' Entomologist Synonymic List,' he considers that it will be 

 necessary to alter some of these, but adds, " I cannot follow any of the 

 authors' reasons for the generic names they have adopted [antea, 

 pp. 32-37] . I am sure, however, that before one begins cutting up 

 the old genera, one must study the whole of them thoroughly, and 

 even then it will be found that it is hard, if not impossible, to say 

 what constitutes a generic difference." 



Entomology of the Isles of Skye and Lewis. — Any information 

 concerning the entomology of these isles would be gladly received by 

 G. W. Kirkaldy, St. Abbs, Wimbledon, Surrey. 



Do Insects feel Pain ? — " Some time ago an appeal for assistance 

 to advance the interests of entomology was asked from a wealthy 

 woman in this city [Philadelphia] , and such assistance declined, on 

 the ground that ' she had never wavered from a dislike to amateur 

 collections of insects immolated on pins and whose long suffering no 

 one could realize.' Now all this raises the question as to whether the 

 lady is correct in her ideas on the subject. Even if entomologists did 

 immolate live insects on pins, it is probable that they would not suffer 



