INTRODUCTION, XVII 



DIVERSE OBSERVATIONS 



CONCERNING THE 



STUDY OF HYMENOPTERA IN GENERAL AND THAT OF Til!-; 

 VESPID^E IN PARTICULAR. 



Observations relative to the Synonymy. 



1st. I make it a rule always to respect the most ancient name ; 

 however, if it is wrongly constructed and if it can be rectified 

 without inconvenience, I do not scruple to correct it. Thus I 

 spell Ehynchium instead of Rhygchium Latr. — Odynerus Bus- 

 tellosi instead of 0. Bustellos Sauss., etc. 



2d. When two different names have been affixed at the same 

 date to the same species, I prefer that of the two which has been 

 employed by the next subsequent author. 



3d. I add the name of the author of a species only to its specific 

 name. Consequently when the genus changes, I nevertheless 

 maintain for the species the name of the author who first named 

 it. Thus, I write: Odynerus i-dens Lin., although Linnaeus has 

 described this species under the name Vespa i-dens. 



Montezumia Leprieurii Spin., although Spinola has described 

 the species under the name of Odynerus Leprieurii. 



Otherwise no author's name would long keep its ground; 

 besides those who act differently do so in order to substitute 

 their own names for that of the primitive describer. Such a 

 proceeding cannot be too strongly censured. 



Let it not be said that there are drawbacks to the advantages 

 of that nomenclature, for if it be desirable to know the complete 

 name as given by the first author, it will be found, such as it is. 

 in the synonymy. 



4th. I admit neither collection names, nor manuscript names, 

 nor in letteris names. 1 admit for author's name only the name 

 of him who has first described the species or genus. 



Any other manner of acting becomes the source of profitless 

 research and of waste of time. Whoever is anxious to affix his 



and is very important. In the succession of species it is generally observed 

 that the colors vary much, even when the forms remain fixed (or vary 

 Ipsa); but there^are other cases in which it is color that remain- stationary 

 whilst the forms vary. 

 B 



