RHOPALOCERA NIIIONICA. 



synonyms. Mr. Strickland many years ago attempted to remedy the evil in the Stricklandian Code, 

 approved of by the British Association, but one of the results of his well-meant endeavour, has been the 

 revival of obsolete names, together with those of the long forgotten 'godfather.' The only true test for a 

 name is its general use, and no regard should be given to any sentimental consideration of the so-called ' law 

 of priority ' if it interferes with the name known to the 'greatest number.' A greater evil arises from the 

 action of certain learned individuals who, engaged in the Sisyphean labors of 'hair splitting,' obtain single 

 specimens from little known localities, to which they hasten to tag new names, without sufficient investi- 

 gation or material. This leads me to speculate why people of this class are so exceedingly anxious to 

 ' name new species.' It seems to me they attach some particular honor or self glorification to the 

 performance, as if they thought they were thereby erecting a monument to perpetuate their own puerile 

 work a strangely false idea! a name being once established, no further interest is felt in the 'godfather.' 

 I will venture the statement that, 100 years hence, no one will trouble their heads whether ' But.' or 'Tub.' 

 is the abbreviation of the describer's name of any insect from Japan or elsewhere. No doubt the mere 

 museographist is a necessity, as, without his aid, the naturalist's time would be too greatly taken up in the 

 purely mechanical work of classification and description, but that a describer should attempt to arrogate 

 to himself any particular scientific honour is absurd. It is as if the mechanic who makes the brass 

 tube for a telescope, should, in consequence, consider himself equal to the Herschel who uses it. 



