116 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



The Generic Name Syntomis, Ochs., a Synonym. — In vol. i. of bis 

 * Catalogue of the Lepidoptera Phalasnae,' p. 59, Sir George Hampson 

 cites Syntomis, Ochs. (type phegea) and Amata, Fab. (type j^assalis) as 

 generic synonyms, giving tbe date of botb as 1808; and be naturally 

 gives preference to tbe more generally employed name. But, unfor- 

 tunately, Zeller's citation of tbe date 1808 for vol. vi. of Illiger's 

 ' Magazin,' in wbicb Fabricius's Amata and otber genera are pub- 

 lisbed, is as indefensible as it is inexplicable ; tbe title-page is dated 

 1807 ; tbis date is accepted by Zeller's collaborators in Agassiz's 

 'Nomenclator,' and even Zeller bimself is not consistent, for be gives 

 1807 in at least one case (Castnia). On investigation, I find definite 

 proof tbat tbe names in question were really publisbed in 1807, for 

 tbey are quite freely cited by an anonymous reviewer of Hiibner's 

 ' Sammlung Exotiscber Scbmetterlinge " in tbe AUg. Lit. Zeit. for 

 Dec. 19tb, 1807 (1807, Band ii., No. 303, pp. 1177-1181). Amata, 

 Fab., is tberefore certainly prior to Syntomis, Ocbs. — Louis B. Prout ; 

 246, Eicbmond Road, N.E., Feb. 17th, 1904. 



Migratory Flight of Crenis boisduvali, Wall. — On Feb. 10th we 

 were surprised by tbe above flying over tbe district of Verulam in such 

 numbers tbat I shall not perhaps be exaggerating when I say millions 

 passed over within an hour. Tbe direction of the flight seemed to me 

 at tbe time to be from S.W. to N.E. ' There was nothing unusual at 

 the time as regards tbe temperature, unless it was a little hotter for 

 the midday ; but old residents of this place tell me they have on other 

 occasions seen a white butterfly (I believe them to be referring to 

 Pieris alba, Wall.) swarm around the flats for hours, the fowls, &c., 

 following them up for food. C. boisduvali, though never so common 

 as P. alba, is commonly found down tbe South Coast, where it feeds 

 upon a shrub named in Medley-Wood's ' Natal Plants,' Excacaria 

 reticulata, and known to tbe Kaffirs as " Hlya-impunzi " ; but there is 

 no accounting for these flies putting in their periodical appearances in 

 such numbers as mentioned. Tbe larva is not gregarious, and can 

 never be taken in dozens when collecting. Three years ago I made 

 reference in tbis magazine (Entom. xxxiv. 98) to a butterfly migration 

 when tbe regiment was stationed in Northern Natal. — H. W. Bell- 

 Marley; Durban, Natal, Feb. 12tb, 1904. 



Aberrations of European Butterflies. — In tbe March number of 

 tbe 'Entomologist,' Mr. Verity gives an account of several interesting 

 varieties of butterflies from Tuscany, and inquires whether anyone else 

 has met with similar forms. On p. 36 of my ' Butterflies of Switzer- 

 land,' &c., I have noted tbat Polyommatus alexis ab. arena is tbe usual 

 form around St. Triphon, and not uncommon elsewhere at tbe Vaudois 

 end of the Rhone Valley. Tbis form is identical with var. melanotoxa, 

 Pincitore, as given in Mr. Verity's illustration. I described the form 

 in the Ent. Bee. vol. xiv. p. 58, and inquired whether it was identical 

 with melanotoxa. Not having received any answer to this query, I used 

 the name current in the Rhone Valley, viz. arena, Favre ; tbis must 

 evidently fall before Piucitore's name, which dates from 1879, Favre's 

 name not having appeared in print (though previously current in con- 

 versation) until my mention of it in tbe Ent. Rec. as above. Colonel 

 Agassiz, of Lausanne, has specimens of Colias edusa of much the same 



