Vlll PREFACE. 



mulieres, Tulliola, and other such words : though custom 

 is in favour of muli'eres, mul'ieres appears to be more 

 correct. But this point, on which so great difference of 

 opinion exists, we leave each Entomologist to decide for 

 himself. 



It will be observed that " all vowels are to be pro- 

 nounced short, except when marked long." Thus, our 

 use of the sign ( ) is orthophonic, rather than prosodic ; 

 and we have avoided altogether the use of the sign (->). 

 As was stated at the outset, our primary object is to 

 produce an accentuated List for the benefit of the less 

 learned Entomologists : to such, the multiplicity of 

 symbols would seem confusion, and we have therefore 

 striven to introduce as few signs as possible, hoping to 

 make the List intelligible to all, and thereby to render 

 some assistance towards the attainment of that consum- 

 mation so much to be desired, a uniform pronunciation 

 of the names of the British Lepidoptera. 



May we be allowed, in conclusion, to ask the attention 

 of scientific authors and Nomenclators to the following 

 considerations ? 



1. Although the name of an insect is to be regarded 

 as a mere name, and not as a compendious description, 

 yet it is desirable that it should denote some peculiarity, 

 or express some property or habit, pertaining to that 

 particular insect. 



2. It is convenient to form generic names from the 

 Greek, specific names* from the Latin. 



* The term " specific name " is now so commonly adopted, that the 

 time for protesting against its use has perhaps gone by. It is easy to see 

 that it had its origin in the desire of making the adjective belonging to 

 the noun species homceoteleutan with that belonging to genus : nor is it 

 less easy to see that this desire has led to the misapplication of a word. 



