THE 
WEEKLY ENTOMOLOGIST* 
“ENTOMA QUtDQUID AGUNT NOSTRI EST FARRAGO LtBELLI.” 
Yol. 2. No. 16.] SATURDAY, MAY 30, 1863. [Price 2 d . 
CLASSIFICATION. 
O UR attention has lately been 
attracted to a new genus, and to 
one, moreover, which has been little 
worked. We owe our first ideas on 
the subject to “ Orthosia.” He has 
directed us to a classification, not of 
Lepidoptera, but of Lepidopterists : 
of insect-hunters, not of insects 
themselves. 
The genus is characterised, we 
must confess, by many pleasing 
features ; and is not, upon the 
whole, difficult to understand. As 
a rule the species show in very 
pleasing colours, but a prevailing 
sluggishness causes the habits to be 
very retired. 'The perfect insects 
are most frequently to be met with 
in the London district ; but single 
specimens are to be found in the 
provinces. In some respects they 
may be compared to the male of 
Apatura Iris, being, at times, very 
pugnacious, and returning obsti- 
nately to the conflict. 
Occasionally we observe an in- 
stance of extreme voracity — a skilful 
and strong-limbed veteran pouncing 
upon a collection of his less ex- 
perienced brethren, and exhibiting 
himself in an unfavourable and 
cannibal light. 
Seriously we would ask our 
readers to pay attention to our 
correspondent’s remarks. The sub- 
ject is one upon which we have often 
felt that a word was wanted. A re- 
luctance to bring a direct complaint 
has deterred us from any previous 
exhortation ; but we are anxious to 
elicit a few good lists, and a fair 
share of assistance from those who 
are well qualified to give both. 
Surely the dormant “ swells ” might 
emerg’e from their seclusion suf- 
ficiently to bear a part in the work. 
After all there is very little to 
daunt any brother Entomologist in 
what we propose. Almost all of us, 
we may perhaps say all, keep some 
sort of diary or note book of our 
captures, observations, and dis- 
coveries. One hour devoted to a 
compilation of interesting extracts 
is what we ask. If each of our sub-* 
scribers would give this one hour 
every month, how well our pages 
would be filled with excellent in- 
formation. 
There are some to whom we 
