5o 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



[March 



paper on Smerinthus tilia, with coloured plate showing no less than 

 ten distinct varieties of this species ; and a paper on T. orbona, also 

 with coloured plate of the Rannock varieties — all bred from larvae by 

 Mr. Clark, at London Fields. As the result of his assiduous study 

 of Lepidoptera, Mr. Clark has amassed a large collection of the 

 various groups of this order of insects, including, besides life histories 

 of Macros, many thousands of Tineina. All the species are well set ; 

 indeed in this respect Mr. Clark can hardly be excelled, every insect 

 receiving the utmost care and attention. Amongst other things in 

 his cabinet drawers, we observed the curious cases of Psyche villosella, 

 one of which was found on heather at Ringwood during last season. 



Besides the collection of Lepidoptera, there are drawers full of 

 Coleoptera, Diptera, Libellulidae, Orthoptera (amongst the latter are 

 four specimens of Gryllotalpa vulgaris, the mole cricket) ; also cases of 

 birds, birds' eggs, &c. 



In concluding our account we may mention that Mr. Clark was 

 educated privately for the profession of a chemist, and has for many 

 years resided on his business premises at Hackney. Here his 

 entomological visitors are cordially welcomed, and he is always glad 

 to give information respecting the insects in his collections, or render 

 any assistance in his power. 



ENTOMOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE. 



BY C. W. DALE. 



In 1842, certain rules were adopted by the British Association for 

 Zoological Nomenclature. The most important of these rules was that 

 the 12th Edition of the " Systema Naturae " of Linnaeus should be 

 adopted as the starting point. Mr. Kirby's great " Catalogue of 

 Butterflies" was based upon it in 1871, but when he published a 

 supplement in 1878 he altered his opinion, and the nomenclature of 

 the supplement is based on the 10th Edition, as is also the " Catalogue 

 of the Lepidoptera of Europe,*' by Dr. Staudinger and Wocke. 



The decision arrived at by the British Association was most 

 certainly a wise one. The carefully revised completion of a great 

 work must be a safer starting point than an earlier and admittedly 

 imperfect edition. 



A further rule adopted by the British Association gives us what 

 is known as the Laws of Priority, that is, that the name given first 

 shall have preference over others given subsequently. This law, 

 however, must be read in conjunction with the rule fixing the starting 

 point at the 12th Edition of the " Systema Naturae." 



A very important rule, however, was instituted and acted upon by 



