THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



231 



means of the open window,, and was found crawling on the floor, with the cat 

 in close attendance, who seemingly could not quite make out the purpose of the 

 strange intruder. This is believed to be the first specimen recorded as having 

 been taken in Scotland, and as the species is extremely rare even in England, 

 the capture is a most important and interesting one. Mr. G. G. Mackenzie 

 exhibited some specimens of coralline and barnacles which had been found on 

 the bottom of ship recently arrived from Java. Mr. A. A. Dalgleish showed 

 a box containing a number of species of lepidoptera, taken lately in the dis- 

 trict, including fine series of I), contaminana, P. sordidana, C. radiatella, D. 

 liturella, C. conscriptella, P. sodandriana, etc. There were also in the box 

 three very beautiful varieties of C. russata, a very dark specimen of N.fulva, 

 taken on 7th of October (rather late for this species), two very light varieties 

 of M. furuncula, and some well marked forms of C. tesiata. 



A volume of the Transactions of the Chichester and West-Sussex Natural 

 History and Microscopical Society was presented to the library, by a Corres- 

 ponding member, Mr. Joseph Anderson, Jun., of Chichester, after which a 

 vote of thanks to the various exhibitors brought a most interesting meeting 

 to a close. — John Mack&y, Hon. Sec. 



THE EDITOR'S CHAT WITH HIS YOUNG 



FRIENDS. 



Alterations in Nomenclature. 



A note by Mr. Dale on 234 page forcibly illustrates the absurdity of 

 altering well established names. We are so apt to imagine that we know 

 better than those who went before us, that we make alterations that ought 

 not to be made, on the strength of some discovery we imagine to be decisive. 

 Dr. Staudinger does not appear to have been acquainted with the work of 

 Eourcroy, and he names Edusa on the authority of Fabricius, quoting his 

 work Mantissa insectorum, Tom. II. p. 23, published 1787. Mr. Kirby 

 gives Fourcroy's name priority over that of Fabricius, his work being publish- 

 ed two years earlier than that referred to by Dr. Staudinger. It now appears 

 that both are wrong. The name Edusa will stand as having precedence, but 

 the authority for the name is not that usually given, but another work by 

 Eabricius published eleven years before that quoted by Dr. Staudinger, and 

 nine years before Fourcroy's work. In any future catalogue the species will 

 stand 



Edusa, Fab. 1776. 

 CroccuSj Eourcroy, 1785, 



