io6 



THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



[May, 



even Melolontha is found to relate to Clythm, and our common cock- 

 chafer becomes Ludibrius vulgaris; the genus Homalota, moreover, is 

 found to comprise but one single species. These instances will show 

 the utter confusion that would arise, and I certainly do not feel 

 justified in adopting these radical changes, the utility of which is so 

 very doubtful, and which in many cases are evidently erroneous, as 

 we often have no means of judging from the very meagre descriptions 

 of the old authors what the insect really was that they described and 

 named." 



A curious instance of the mystification which sometimes arises in 

 the matter of nomenclature is thus related by Mr. T. D. A. Cockerell 

 (Colorado), in " Hardwick's Science Gossip," xxiv., 276 : — 11 There is 

 much discussion going on on this side of the water among botanists, 

 about the citation of authorities after specific names, and even the 

 right of priority of these names seems to be called into question. For 

 instance, in " Botanical Gazette," 1888, p. 234, we have some remarks 

 by Mr. F. L. Scribner : " Pursh described Stipa membranacea ; Thurber, 

 ignorant (as almost every one was) of Pursh's name, called it Eriocoma 

 cuspidata ; it turns out to be an Oryzopsis ; ought Scribner to go back 

 to Pursh's specific name Membranacea, or is he right in calling it 

 Oryzopsis cuspidata, Scrib. ? Now here is a strangely confused state of 

 affairs — the prior name and prior author lost sight of altogether, and 

 a new name adopted simply because the original generic determination 

 was incorrect ! Surely if there is to be any uniformity between 

 zoological and botanical nomenclature, the grass must be called 

 Oryzopsis membranacea Pursh ; or, if preferred, the authority can be 

 written " (Pursh) Scrib.," to show that Scribner first called it an 

 Oryzopsis" 



A fitting addenda to the above I take from Robson and Gardner's 

 " List of British Lepidoptera and their Varieties " : — " From all this 

 only one deliverance can be looked for. It is no use an individual, 

 particularly one unknown in the entomological world, attempting to 

 produce a catalogue that will be satisfactory to everyone. The 

 leading Societies of the various countries where Entomology is largely 

 followed, must arrange for the preparation of a list, which shall be 

 finally binding on everyone, and whose nomenclature shall be subject 

 to no further alteration. For this we must wait and hope." 



(To be continued). 



