204 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 
larva, and still more resembles the perfect insect. The accompanying 
ie 20. figure (No. 20) of a pupa of a species of “schna, 
nearly allied to Z. #imaculata, will give an idea 
of the appearance of that of our Dragon-fly. 
When about to become a perfect insect, the 
pupa climbs up some suitable plant near the 
surface of the water and attaching itself firmly 
awaits the last great change. In a short time 
the skin opens down the back, and the adult 
Dragon-fly, by bending backwards and forwards 
for some time, emerges. It only requires to 
remain a few hours till its wings attain their full size 
and hardness, when it starts off on a life long 
expedition of plunder. 
REMARKS ON RECENT NAMES GIVEN TO SOME — 
LEPIDOPTEROUS INSECTS. 
BY H. K. MORRISON, OLD CAMBRIDGE, MASS. 
Looking over some recent papers, by one of our most careful and 
distinguished naturalists, well known by his contributions to all branches 
of Natural History, but more particularly to Lepidopterists by his exaus- 
tive studies on the genera of North American Bombycidæ, we were 
surprised to see the numerous and apparently unnecessary repetitions of 
the same specific name in closely allied genera and families. 
In a single article on the Phalaenidæ of California, there are in this 
group alone #7 species named Californiaria or Californiata. If the 
Phalaenidæ were an immense group, containing many distinct generic 
types but loosely connected by intermediate forms, so large a number of 
species of the same name would be opposed to all precedent in nomen- 
clature. But, on the contrary, there is no group so compact, none in 
which the genera are so difficult to define, and united by stronger and 
