THE ENTOMOLOGISTS 
WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER. 
No. 200.] SATURDAY, AUUGST 4, 1800. [Price Id. 
COLEOPHORA. 
The appearance of anotlier volume of 
the ‘ Natural History of the Tineina,’ 
treating of this genus of case-making 
Tineina, naturally calls our attention 
to these insects. And the announce- 
ment by Mr. Scott last week of two 
new species about to be described (and 
we know not how many more there may 
be in an embryotic state, the announce- 
ment of which as future species would 
at present be premature), will lead 
some of our readers to enquire, Where 
is the genus to stop ? If it has no 
limits our cabinets have, and two 
drawers, which were once thought a 
magnificent allowance for the genus 
Coleophora, now are becoming quite in- 
competent to satisfy its ever-increasing 
demand for space — more space. 
If any one is really anxious to 
know the number of species, let him 
consult a botanist as to the number 
of plants belonging to the natural 
orders LeguminoscB and Composite; let 
him calculate that, on an average, 
there will be at least one species of 
Coleophora to each plant of those 
orders. Some plants are known to 
produce two or three species, and 
this will allow for the possibility — the 
hare possibility — of some leguminous 
or composite plant not nourishing any 
larva of the genus Coleophora. Then 
let him add a round number — say 200 
— to cover all the Coleophora: not 
attached to the plants of those orders. 
Then if a represent the number of 
LeguminoscB, h the number of Com- 
positcE, X, which would represent the 
number of Coleophorce, would be thus 
expressed x ~ a b 200. 
Let no one think we are romancing ; 
we write in sober earnest. At this 
present moment at least a dozen in- 
sects allied to Anatipennella are pressing 
upon us to be admitted to the rank 
of species; at present we shake our 
head and endeavour to keep off the 
crowd, but the number pressing upon 
us is continually increasing, and the 
question will arise. If Anatipennella, 
Palliatella and Currucipennella are three 
good and distinct species, why may 
there not be other twenty-seven, so as 
to make up the number' to thirty. 
Ibipennella has already had a specific 
rank assigned to it; others are claiming 
T 
