146 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



[July 



■Matuvna, Linn., 1766. 

 Athalia, Rott., 1775. 

 Maturna, W.V., 1776. 

 The Linnaean description of Hesperia comma in " Systema 

 Naturae " is : — " Comma. 256, P.P. alis integerrimis divaricatis fulvi : 

 punctis albis lineolaque nigra Fn. Suec. 1080. Scop. Carn. 463., 

 Geoffr. Paris. 2.66. n. 37., Merian Eur. 15. t. 48. Ray ins. 125. n. 21.22. 

 Poda ins. 79. n. 51. P.P. sylvestris. Habitat in Europa." 



Now these references all relate to Lima] W.V. therefore the 

 synonymy should be : — 



Comma, Linn., 1757. 

 Sylvestris, Poda., 1861. 

 Thaumas, Rott., 1775. 

 Linea, W.V., 1776. 

 The effect of this would practically render our Comma nameless. 

 Therefore if this law of priority be carried out to its utmost extent, 

 two of our British butterflies without names. 



In five instances, Mr. South has not complied with this law of 

 priority among the small number of British Butterflies. 



Far less confusion would arise if we followed the example of the 

 earlier race of Entomologists, and took 1793, the date of the great 

 work of Fabricius as the starting point. Then we could write Edusa, 

 Fab., Hyale, Fab., and Comma, Fab. To my mind the law of usage 

 ought to override the law of priority. 



If we suppose the law of priority to be carried out, there are at 

 least four dates set up by different authorities as the period when 

 Entomological Nomenclature ought to begin. 

 1735. Mr. Crotch for Genera. 

 1 75 1. Dr. Thorell. 



1758. Staudinger & Wocke. Gemminger & Harold. 

 1768. British Association. Mr. Kirby- 



Besides these, Mr. Kirby has shown (" Entomological Monthly 

 Magazine," Vol. VIII., p. 142), that specific or trivial names were 

 first used by Linnaeus in 1746. This date must therefore be added to 

 the list of those where Entomological Nomenclature ought to com- 

 mence. Some of the names given in 1746, rejected subsequently by 

 Linnaeus himself, were it seems, subsequently adopted by Retzius, 

 Esper, and others. But, if we go back to 1746, we shall have to 

 adopt Ammiralis for Atalanta and Principissa for Lathonia. Why, there- 

 fore, not go further back still to 1 717, and adopt Petiver's name of 

 Oculus pavonus for Io, and Oculatus hampstediensis for Velleda, unless we 

 go still further back to 1633, and call Io the Omnium regina of Mouffet. 

 If it be objected that these are dual names, so the Pavonia-minor and 

 Pavonia-major of Linnaeus, or the varietal names adopted in America, 

 such as Rapes novanglice, &c, are likewise dual. 



