59 



One other suggestion, and that is regarding the coinage of new 

 names. It seems to the writer that there should be an effort to secure 

 short but significant terms where an expressive vernacular term is 

 not already current. 



The use of the generic name, a practice which is so common and 

 generally so satisfactory in botany and to some extent in ornithology, 

 is less available here because of the frequent change of generic names 

 due to splitting or revision of old genera, which are unable to accommo- 

 date the grist of new species poured into the hopper. 



It would be a little awkward to have to perpetuate as a common 

 name the wheat aphis when the species has been relegated to an 

 entirely different genus. 



Mr. Fletcher considered that the matter was an important one, and 

 suggested that a committee of three take the matter up for the 

 Association. 



Mr. Gillette considered that the adoption of such a list of common 

 names for well-known pests would prevent some of the confusion that 

 exists at present. He thought that the scientific name should appear 

 somewhere in the publication. 



Mr. Webster agreed with the statements made by the last speaker, 

 and stated that he thought that there should be uniformity in nomen- 

 clature as far as possible. Much care should be taken in making up 

 this list, and he cited the fact that in the South the name chinch bug 

 is applied to the bedbug, and the buffalo moth to the carpet beetle in 

 the North. 



Mr. Hine called attention to the difficulties experienced by teachers 

 on account of the continual changing of scientific names, and said 

 that a set of uniform common names for well-known insects seemed 

 desirable. 



Mr. Felt remarked that most common names were spontaneous, and 

 that it was necessary for the entomologist to adopt such as would be 

 understood by his constituents. He considered the matter of common 

 names of somewhat minor importance, though he was willing to 

 cooperate, so far as possible, in securing the adoption of desirable 

 ones. He did not believe it advisable to omit the scientific name, 

 even in very popular publications, though it could occupy an incon- 

 spicuous place. 



Mr. Washburn agreed with Mr. Felt, and remarked that in some 

 parts of Minnesota several different insects were called the "squash 

 bug," among these being the striped cucumber beetle. 



Mr. Kirkland called attention to the fact that in South Africa the 

 insect that in this country is known as the woolly aphis is there called 

 "the American blight," and farmers would not be able to recognize 

 this insect under any other name. It appeared to him that the 



