NOTES, CAPTURES, ETC. 95 



to Science — Pieris spilleri, mihi," by A. J. Spiller, published in 

 the 'Entomologist,' vol. xvii., p. 6^. The species was taken in 

 Natal in 1881 by Mr. Spiller, and lie seems to have taken some 

 pains to ascertain that it was nondescript : — " I beg therefore to 

 name it after myself." The practice of naming a new species 

 after its captor, simply because he first captured it, was to be 

 discouraged : " names taken from persons should not be lightly 

 applied ; this distinction should be reserved for those whose 

 works and scientific labours give them a claim to the admiration 

 of posterity." The story, at once ludicrous and melancholy, 

 of GEcoj)hora woodiella, as narrated by Mr. Sidebotham (Entom. 

 xvii. 52), should be a warning to nomenclators against the hasty 

 imposition of personal names. If the attempt of one entomologist 

 by this means to confer honour (often undeserved) upon another 

 may be excused, what can be said for the man who is not content to 

 wait till the compliment is paid him by another, but insists upon 

 crowning himself? The President believed the case to be without 

 precedent, and, as it was certainly a departure from good taste, he 

 trusted Mr. Spiller would not find an imitator. 



Blatta Americana. — Besides the Epliestite noticed (p. 93) 

 as having been recently imported from America, I observed a 

 number of Blatta americana (American cockroach) amongst the 

 cargo of the same vessel. They were to be seen in various stages 

 of development, some of them being as yet very small ; others, 

 although to all appearances full-grown, were still of a whitish 

 colour, whilst not a few possessed the red colour characteristic of 

 the fully-developed insect. Although they seemed to be very 

 active, I hope that our climate will prove unsuitable for the 

 naturalisation of this destructive pest.— Edward A. Atmore. 



Birds versus Insects. — Birds undoubtedly have great 

 influence in lessening the number of individual insects. All 

 insectivorous birds feed principally if not entirely upon insects. 

 Small birds have increased very much in numbers in this neigh- 

 bourhood since the Wild Birds' Protection Act. I have taken 

 notes of nests and eggs which I have found, and find that lately 

 they have been more numerous. Birdcatchers used to catch 

 scores of young goldfinches and linnets here before the passing 

 of the Act. I can well remember the time when farmers in this 

 district used to purchase birds' eggs, young birds, and the heads 



