16 
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCEK. 
the method of using the specific name 
only in writing and conversation, — a slip- 
shod practice known only among Lepi- 
dopterists, and fostered by the attempts 
of those who ought to know better, to 
establish a uniform termination to the 
specific names in some of the divisions of 
the Lepidoptera, and not to repeat a 
specific name within those limits. Such 
a proceeding cuts at once at the root of 
the truly natural system of naming in- 
troduced by Linnaeus, and endeavours to 
substitute a sort of mononymic nomen- 
clature, which never can succeed, be- 
cause, to say nothing of its absurdity in 
a classical point of view, it is unintelli- 
gible and of very narrow application. 
The Lepidopterists themselves cannot see 
this, or they would give a uniform termi- 
nation to the specific names in every 
section of the Lepidoptera, but as they 
have not done so we are forced to con- 
clude that they do not believe in their 
own dogma. If even they attempted and 
succeeded in carrying out this plan, no 
other entomologists would follow their 
example. Just fancy a Coleopterist 
altering 999 specific names because a 
thousand species in a division, although 
in different genera, already bore the same 
name, and then giving to all a uniform 
termination. The very idea is scouted, 
and yet Lepidopterists hug themselves 
that they have hit upon something 
“quite convenient” in doing as they 
do. 
Another matter of less importance, 
but yet one that requires notice and 
might be easily rectified, is the manner 
of writing specific names. In the ‘ In- 
telligencer’ I see that sometimes all these 
names have a capital initial letter, some- 
times only a part, and sometimes none 
at all have it. There seems to be no 
system observed, although the rule is 
very simple, — either to write them all 
without a capital initial letter, or only to 
put it when the name is derived from a 
person or thing ; to use a capital letter to 
every name is clearly wrong. I know it 
has been said that a capital is allowable 
when the name is used substantively, but 
this is only begging the question, for in 
Natural History such a practice is 
against the law. 
Yours, &c., 
A. 
rPHE LEPIDOPTERIST’S 
1 CALENDAR, by Mr. Merhin, 
will be again advertised as soon as ready : 
prepayment for three copies has been 
received. — E. Newman. 
8w, cloth, 
T he ENTOMOLOGIST’S 
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
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price 4s. 
Vol. III. (for 1857-8, October — March), 
price 4s. 
Vol. IV. (for 1858, April — September), 
price 4s. 
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March), price 4s. 
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London : E. Newman, 9, Devonshire 
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LOTH COVERS for binding 
cither Volume of the ‘ Intei.li- 
GENCER,’ price Is., or by post Is. '2d., can 
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