IV 



I 



The generic synonymy has been revised throughout on the follow- 

 ing principles, for a further exposition of which the reader is referred 

 to an article in the "Journal of the Linnean Society, Zoology", vol. X. 

 pp. 494530. 



I. The name of every homogeneous genus, if not a synonym, or 

 previously used in Zoology or Botany, should be retained for 

 some part of it. 



II. In subdividing a genus, the original name should be restricted 

 to the typical section, if this can be ascertained. 



III. Should the typical section not be ascertainable , the original 

 name may be restricted to any section of the genus, unless it 

 should be proposed to apply the name to a section which does 

 not include a single species placed in it by fhe author who 

 first proposed it. The same rule holds good if a generic name 

 is retained which has hitherto been only used in a plate, or 

 in a printed catalogue, without having been then defined. 



IV. The name of every genus which has been previously employed 

 in either Zoology or Botany, should changed. 



V. No specific name should be elevated into the name of its genus- 

 Some difference of opinion exists as to whether our specific no- 

 menclature should commence with the 10 th (1758) or 12 th (1767) 

 edition of Linnaeus' "Systema Naturae". In the present work the latter 

 date has been adopted as the starting-point. 



The author has much pleasure hi acknowledging the important 

 assistance which he has received from Messrs. Hewitson, Butler, and the 

 late Dr. RFelder, with whom he has been in constant correspondence, 

 and also from Messrs. Atkinson, 'Bates, Deyrolle, Edwards, Herrich- 

 Schaffer, Scudder, Wallengren, Watson, the late Herr Lederer, and 

 others. The determination of the species of Papilio simultaneously 

 described by Felder and Wallace and most of the notes on Euploza in 

 the Appendix, have been contributed by Mr. Wallace. 



Last but not least, the author gratefully acknowledges the in- 

 valuable assistance which he has received from his wife in the laborious 

 task of preparing the manuscript for the press. 



Royal Dublin Society, 

 March, 187L 



W. P. Kirby. 



