( cl ) 



Scientific 1 The Code was formed in order to obtain a stable 

 nomenclature, and it is steadily working in that direction, 

 but the end cannot be obtained in a decade. Nature works 

 slowly and we had better follow her example. We have 

 to deal with a vast amount of literature extending over one 

 hundred and fifty years, and it is only as the Systematist in 

 his monographs or other work investigates this mass of 

 literature that stability will be obtained, for it should be 

 remembered that it is the Systematist who must be in the end 

 the final court of appeal, at least in the elucidation of species, 

 and, therefoi'e, in the elucidation of the names of species. It 

 is said that changes of names bother those who are not 

 specialists, but I have little doubt that the suggestion of 

 'nomina conservanda ' in combination with the Law of Priority 

 would be infinitely more perplexing, and it would be an open 

 door for endless changes. The fact that the number of species 

 and genera in Entomology far outweighs the number of living 

 forms that belong to all other classes of the animal kingdom, 

 is ample justification for the considerable extension of the 

 powers and status of the Commission formed at our first 

 International Congress as suggested by my resolution, and I 

 trust this second Congress will approve of the Resolution * of 

 the Ent. Soc. of London that I have the honour to move." 



The Rev. G. Wheeler followed with a paper entitled 

 "Suggestions for securing Simplification and Permanency in 

 Nomenclature." 



In the afternoon, M. Charles Oberthiir, Hon. F.E.S., who 

 was enthusiastically welcomed on his first visit to England, in 

 a speech of glowing eloquence developed his proposition — 



" Pas de bonne figure a I'appui d'une description, pas de nom 

 valable " — 

 and after this was read a paper by Mr. L. B. Prout, F.E.S., 

 " On the place of figures in descriptive Entomology," and an 

 interesting and sustained discussion of the best means 

 whereby something like order might be evolved out of the 

 existing chaos of entomological nomenclature. Finally, after 

 the question had been referred back to a special committee 

 the following resolution was adopted — 



* For the Resolution see Proceedings, p. Ixvi. 



