Insects. 9055 
be discarded, in not a few instances, in favour of one more appropriate to the species. 
It is singular what errors have crept in already amongst the English names: thus, 
I feel quite convinced that the name “ Admiral,” applied to two species of our Diurni, 
is a corruption of the name “ Admirable,” found in the oldest works ; given, doubtless, 
on account of the rare beauty of these insects, eryo admirari debet. 1 hope, therefore, 
that the use of these uncertain names will be avoided by entomologists as far. as 
possible: most of them must now be convinced of the utility, not to say the necessity, 
of a standard Latin nomenclature, capable of a world-wide use,-—John R. S. Clifford ; 
21, Robert Terrace, Chelsea, March 31, 1864. 
Results of Pupa-digging.—In this county neither larve nor pupe were at all plentiful 
during the autumnal part of last year; therefore we cannot reasonably expect to find 
Lepidoptera otherwise than rare in this neighbourhood at the approaching season. 
I commenced pupa-digging in September last, and continued the pursuit upon every 
available day until Christmas. Having kept a journal of each day’s proceedings, 
I find I have enjoyed upwards of fifty days’ vigorous hunting, and have taken 2300 
pupz, which I consider to be a much smaller number than I have usually taken in 
former years, in proportion to the time so occupied. They consist of the following :-— 
Noctuina : - : - : 2009 
Geometrina : : : . - 138 
Smerinthus Populi ‘ : 3 i 21 
3 Tilie 3 : : : 88 
ie Bombycina ; - ° S x 17 
Cocoons of Sesia apiformis = : “ 31 
The number of Geometrina, in proportion to the Noctuina, is certainly very small. 
Pupa-digging, I think, must be, to those who have a thorough relish for Entomology, 
a very exciting enjoyment, at least I have ever found it to be so. I think little of 
distance to a likely spot, having scores of times walked from six to nine miles out 
early in a morning, and set to work digging, and continued doing so almost as long as 
daylight lasted, never sitting down, or eating or drinking, until I was upon the road 
home again. This is perhaps more enthusiastic than wise, but my object has usually 
been to make the most of the time. My principle endeavours lately have been made 
to obtain Xylomiges conspicillaris, and I hope to be enabled ere long to announce that 
I have been successful— Abraham Edmunds ; The Tything, Worcester. 
[I believe the tendency of Mr. Greene’s admirable ‘Insect Hunter's Companion’ 
will be to render pupa-digging universal among Lepidopterists: the work is indis- 
pensable to the collector. To those, however, who do not Possess the virtue of patience 
pupa-digging will often prove a wearisome pursuit— Edward Newman.) 
Cells of Bees: Hexahedral Forms very general in Natural Objects.—In the most 
interesting discussion that has taken place at the Entomological Society between 
Mr. Waterhouse and Mr. Smith, a very simple difference not hitherto expressed 
certainly exists. Mr. Waterhouse evidently believes that hexahedral forms in Nature 
come direct from the great Workmaster, without thought or contrivance on the part of 
the individual agents; Mr. Smith, on the contrary, attributes the result to the skill, 
reflection, contrivance, instinct,—call it by what name you will,—of the individual bee 
' who labours in their production, though doubtless he would equally attribute this skill, 
or whatever it may be called, to the same Fountain-head. Now I can fully agree with 
the view I lave assigned to Mr. Waterhouse, but not at all with that which is, 
