GENERIC NAMES OF BUTTERFLIES 23 



treated on taxonomic grounds as representing a subspecies of the taxon represented by the 

 older-established nominal species Papilio leo Gmelin, [1790] (in Linnaeus, Syst. Nat. (ed. 13) 

 1 (5) : 2363). For particulars of the subjective synonymy of the names published for this 

 species, which has been more usually known by the name Polygonns lividus Hiibner, [1825, 

 (Samtnl. exot. Schmelt. 2 : pi. [144], figs 1, 2 rj, 3, 4 $) reference should be made to Evans, 

 1952 (Cat. Amer. Hesp. Brit. Mus. 2 : 53-54). 



The nominal species Hesperia savignyi Latreille, the type-species of Acolastus Scudder, 

 is (as already explained) currently treated subjectively as representing a subspecies of the 

 taxon represented by the nominal species Papilio leo Gmelin, while the nominal species 

 Polygonus lividus Hiibner, the type-species of Polygonus Hiibner, [1825], is treated subjectively 

 as representing the same taxon as that represented by the nominate subspecies of Papilio leo. 

 Thus, from the subjective taxonomic point of view the taxa on which the genera Polygonus 

 Hiibner and Acolastus Scudder are respectively based are not only congeneric but actually 

 conspecific. Accordingly, the generic names Polygonus and Acolastus are subjective syno- 

 nyms of one another. In consequence, even if Acolastus were an available name (instead of 

 being, as already noted, objectively invalid under the Law of Homonymy), it would not have 

 been required under current taxonomic ideas and would have been treated as a junior sub- 

 jective synonym of Polygonus Hiibner. 

 ACONTHEA Horsfield, [1829], Descr. Cat. lep. Ins. Mus. East India Coy (2) : explic. pis 5, 8. 

 Type-species by selection by Hemming (1934, Gen. Names hoi. Hulls 1 : 93) : Aconthea 

 primaria Horsfield, [1829], ibid. (2) : explic. pi. 8, fig. 6. 



Among the species figured by Horsfield as belonging to his new genus Aconthea was the new 

 nominal species Aconthea primaria, which, in the opinion of all later systematists, represents 

 the same taxon as that represented by the older-established nominal species Papilio aconthea 

 Cramer, [1777] (Uitl. Kapellen 2 (12) : 59, pi. 134, figs I), E, F, G). There can be no reason- 

 able doubt that this was Horsfield's view also and that it was because, in common with the 

 general view of systematists of that time, he considered that tautonymy between the names of 

 genera and included species was not permissible that, when he decided to use the word 

 " Aconthea as a generic name, he decided also to provide a new specific name for aconthea 

 Cramer, giving it, as shown above, the specific name primaria. Subsequent authors have 

 accepted the view that the names primaria Horsfield and aconthea Cramer represent the same 

 taxon and those authors who have considered the question of the type-species of the genus 

 Aconthea Horsfield, have concluded that the Principle of Absolute Tautonymy is applicable in 

 this case and therefore that the type-species is Papilio aconthea Cramer. When I dealt with 

 this matter in 1934 I realized that, not being an originally included species, Papilio aconthea 

 could not be the type-species of this genus and stated that the type-species was Aconthea 

 primaria Horsfield, that being both an originally included species and also the species com- 

 monly identified with Papilio aconthea Cramer. I still however had the confused idea that the 

 Principle of Absolute Tautonymy was applicable in this case, whereas in fact it was not, 

 Horsfield not having cited the nominal species Papilio aconthea Cramer as an included species. 

 The fact that I then definitely specified Aconthea primaria as the type-species makes that 

 species the type-species by selection by myself in the passage referred to above. 

 ACONTIA Westwood, 1848, Cabinet orient. Ent. : 76. Type-species by monotypy : Acontia 

 doubledaii Westwood, 1848, ibid. : 76, pi. 37, fig. 4. 



The name Acontia Westwood is invalid under the Law of Homonymy, being a junior 

 homonym (a) of Acontia Ochsenheimer, 1816 (Schmelt. Europa 4 : 91) and (b) of Acontia 

 Hiibner, [1823] (Verz. bekannt. Schmett. (17) : 257). 



The specific name doubledaii Westwood (the name of the type-species of the present genus) 

 is invalid as a junior secondary homonym of an older-established name doubledaii Gray, 

 [1846], as the result of the action of Westwood in [1850] (in Doubleday, Gen. diurn. Lep. (2) : 

 291) in placing both the nominal species concerned (i.e. Acontia doubledaii Westwood, 1848, 

 and Adolias doubledaii Gray (G.R.), [1846] (Descr. Fig. lep. Ins. Nepal : 13, pi. 13 (2 figs) in 

 the genus Adolias Boisduval. Westwood realized that by this action he had invalidated 



