48 
THE ENTOMOLOGIST’S WEEKLY INTELLIGENCER, 
doubt has been duly discussed by many 
others: it is a subject which I consider 
of more or less importance to all, but 
more especially to many of the working 
classes: it will at once be apparent that 
my remarks will principally apply to this 
extensive body of entomologists, when I 
state that my observations are upon the 
proper pronunciation of the Latin nomen- 
clature of insects. Many of your readers, 
with a greater flow of pen-and-paper logic 
than I possess, might be able to do 
greater justice to the cause than I am, 
but never having had the pleasure of 
seeing the question discussed in your 
pages, I have myself resolved to break 
the ice, hoping that some of your nume- 
rous readers will break it still further, 
and thus bring the question fully before 
you. 
Many may think that I am attaching 
more importance to the subject than is 
due, but I think that when they have 
given it a proper amount of considera- 
tion, they will agree that it should not 
be overlooked. Perhaps such savans who 
are well versed in their Greek and Latin 
Lexicons will think it an affair of no 
moment; but let them visit a few col- 
lectors who have not had the benefit of a 
most ample education, and their ears will 
be assailed by so many conflicting pro- 
nunciations that they will soon be zealous 
in the cause of working a reformation. 
“ But how is this to be done?” is the 
cry of many, and to this question I 
will endeavour to give an answer. The 
greatest errors of pronunciation are often 
in wrong accents being placed on letters 
where they should not be placed, as a 
remedy for which I recommend the fol- 
lowing plan. 
Supposing that I were uuacquainted 
with Latin, and were to come in contact 
with the name of L. Sinapis, by what 
means am I to arrive at its proper acccn- 
tation. Is the first i pronounced short, 
and the a long, or is it vice versd P I 
should perhaps be at a loss at what con- 
clusion to arrive, whereas by placing 
notes of accentation the evil might be 
obviated. I see the name printed thus, 
L. Stnd'pis, with the short accent on the 
i and the long accent on the a, and I 
know how to pronounce it at once. This 
plan might perhaps not be so easily 
accomplished in some instances as it 
might in others ; for instance, in the ‘ In- 
telligencer,’ where the'name of one insect 
is often referred to, it might be im- 
practicable, but in Lists of British Lepi- 
doptera, or in works similar to the 
‘ Manual,’ to follow this theory might be 
of great service to persons requiring them 
as a guide to proper pronunciation, and 
I tliiuk it would not fail greatly to in- 
crease their value. I have inclosed my 
card according to custom, and remain, 
Yours truly, 
York, October 28. R. A. 
TO THE EDITOR OF THE ‘ INTELLI- 
GENCER.’ 
Sir, — On two or three occasions during 
the summer I have received my boxes 
from correspondents unpaid, and of course 
had to pay increased postage on them. 
This is hardly fair, I think, as, if a cor- 
respondent is unable to pay the postage, 
he should state so when writing, as then 
one could send the insects wished for in 
a box not worth returning. 
To instance a case, I lately sent a cor- 
respondent three specimens of C. Cas- 
trensis, paying of course the postage of 
sixpence, and received back the box un- 
paid, and containing one II. Dominula 
(bred), one L. Iiubi , one P. Cassinea, 
and one L. Dispar, the specimens, 
with the exception of Dominula, being 
rather indifferent, so that for these in- 
sects 1 gave Castrensis, and had to pay 
Is. 2d. postage. 
Hoping you will excuse this trespass 
on your valuable paper, 
Believe me to be, dear Sir, 
Yours truly, 
ClISIOCAMI’A. 
Printed and published by Kdwakd Nkvvman, 
Printer, of No. !*, Devonshire Street, Hishops- 
Knte Without, London, in the ooutity of Mid- 
dlesex.— Saturday, November 7, IS07. 
