5402 Insects. 



Laverna subbistrigella has also been bred from this plant, but its 

 habit has not yet been observed. 



H. T. Stainton. 



Mountsfield, Lewisham, 

 October 20, 1856. 





On Nomenclature. — Nomenclature is a sore subject ; everybody abuses it, — every- 

 body says it is nonsense to have more than one name for an insect, — and yet eveiy 

 one who writes on Entomology, whether it be a monograph of a genus or a manual of 

 a class, is sure to change some names previously considered correct by some one. 

 This is undoubtedly very annoying; but can it be prevented?— does it not arise, of 

 necessity, from the circumstances of the case? When a person reads up any branch 

 of the Science, and finds a description which he has no doubt applies to a certain 

 insect, and which bears an earlier date than the name by which that insect is more 

 generally known, it seems to me that he bas no choice in the matter, but must change 

 it, for I believe it is generally allowed that priority is the only sure guide in this case. 

 If every one could be persuaded to adopt some one standard it would undoubtedly be a 

 great advantage; but how is this to be done? Your correspondents recommend 

 Doubleday's 'Synonymic Catalogue,' and very probably there are in this country at 

 the present time more collections arranged by that than by any other; but some of the 

 older collections are already arranged by Guenee's works, and there is no doubt but a 

 large proportion of those now beginning to collect will adopt Stainton's ' Manual,' and 

 both these works, being accompanied by descriptions, have an authority and stability 

 which are wanting in the other. It seems to me a difficulty and annoyance to which 

 we must make up our minds, and I think it is one to which Englishmen should be 

 especially forbearing, resulting as it does from that right of private judgment which 

 we all prize so nighty. — Thomas Boyd ; 17, Clapton Square, October 6, 1856. 



Mr. Stainton s Arrangement of Lepidoptera. — I cannot agree with the protest 

 signed by four of our entomologists and published in the ' Zoologist' (Zool. 5289), and 

 confess I am a heretic with respect to the infallibility of any list or arrangement of 

 Lepidoptera in the present state of our knowledge, nor do I think the views embodied 

 in the said protest are calculated to advance the progress of Science, or that they will 

 receive the assent of the intelligent author of the ' Synonymic List' himself, who, I am 

 pretty sure, in a second edition, will not follow the same plan as in the first. Truth 

 must be our standard, and not any particular list or arrangement. I believe there are 

 errors of classification and nomenclature in all our lists, Mr. Stainton's not excepted, 

 but he can only "mislead beginners" where he is in error. Systematic Entomology 

 will make no progress towards perfection if no changes are to be permitted ; but, at 

 the same time, those who make them should do so with care and truthfulness, not from 

 caprice, and when they find themselves in error should not hesitate boldly to correct it. 

 — R. F. Logan; Duddingston, Edinburgh, November 4, 1856. 



Figures of Larva of Lepidoptera. — I have great pleasure in informing any one who 

 would like to have good figures of larvae that the Mr. Diggles named by Mr. Stevens 

 (Zool. 5307) is really a first-rate artist and a most indefatigable Micro-Lepidopterist: 

 having had the pleasure of his acquaintance many years, I can speak from having seen 



