THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 279 



perhaps published a descriptive list of the lepidoptera of some unknown village, 

 and whose work no one has seen. It is quite time we had a settled 

 nomenclature. The constant changes of name that are being made by com- 

 pilers of catalogues, on the authority of the absurd law of priority, are making 

 the writings of even a few years ago, quite a sealed book to those now enter- 

 ing upon the study, or worse even than that, by names being used for one 

 species now that were formerly used for another, the young naturalist may be 

 led entirely astray. 



In the catalogue I propose to commence in the part for January, 1886, I 

 will give priority to the names British lepidopterists are accustomed to use. 

 Those lo which priority is given in the catalogues of Drs. Staudinger and 

 Wocke, Mr. W. E. Kirby and others, will be added below, and the dates 

 affixed to each, so that students will understand what species is intended when 

 these names are met with. Yarieties will be given in the same way as in the 

 former list, and a few words will generally be added descriminating between 

 the type and the variety. This, I hope, will prove a useful addition. 



In preparing the catalogue and passing it through the press, in addition to 

 the assistance of those whose names appear on the title page, my friend Mr. 

 John Gardner will render special aid. His intimate knowledge of the earlier 

 stages of most of our Macro-lepidoptera will, I trust, be of considerable ser- 

 vice in any alterations of arrangement it may be necessary to make. 



In the sequence of groups and genera, the arrangement of MM. Bois- 

 duval and Guenee is mainly followed. This differs considerably from any 

 hitherto offered to British collectors, but will, I think, be found the most 

 natural lineal arrangement yet proposed. Those to whom it has been sub- 

 mitted have expressed their approval, and the " Haggerston Entomological 

 Society/' after a careful examination of the MS., have cordially agreed to 

 accept the Dedication of the Catalogue. 



THE POSTAL EXCHANGE CLUB. 



This Club was successfully carried on last year, but the exhaustion of the 

 duplicates of many of the members led to its temporary suspension during 

 the winter. Eor some reason or other with which 1 am unacquainted it has 

 never been recommenced. The second club which resulted from the success 

 of the first, was commenced, but after a few rounds the box ceased to travel, 

 and numberless enquiries were directed to me as to the reason for its non- 

 arrival. It has now turned up and is in my possession. I have also had a 

 set of new boxes made for club No. 1., and purpose to send both on their 



