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Intoxication of insects. —Mr. May raised a question as to whether 
moths at sugar become intoxicated or only drop off for protection. 
Dr. Chapman suggested that at sallow catkins, moths cannot become 
intoxicated, yet they drop off in the same way ; it was assumed that 
protection was the sole cause, and he did not consider that insects became 
intoxicated. 
Discussion on Nomenclature.— This was introduced by Mr. Dadd, 
who stated that by nomenclature we should indicate the order, family, 
genus and species to which a given creature belongs. Haworth 
favoured the view of indication by special affixes for the different 
families. The arrangement has, however, not been adhered to. With 
genera the names should indicate the common affinities of those species 
that are included in that genus. English names were frequently much 
more descriptive than the scientific one. Latin and Greek names were 
very frequently only fanciful. Mr. Dadd was of opinion that discoverers 
of new species should not lend their names for the names of such. 
With reference to the great multiplicity of generic names, it was 
suggested that there should be a time limit for priority in resurrecting 
old names. Varieties of species were recommended to be termed var. 
A, B, &c., or even numbered, but not named. Instead of dividing 
existing genera up into a number of smaller genera it was urged that 
the system of sections should be employed. Dr. Chapman in proposing 
a vote of thanks to Mr. Dadd for introducing the subject, said one of 
the great things to be aimed at in a name was finality. Get the 
original name and keep it! He thought that the specific name ought 
to be an unique name and deprecated the use of the same name 
over and over again in different genera. The present system was 
a binomial one of which the first name was classificatory and the 
second descriptive. The classificatory name must be altered if 
it be necessary. Mr. Kaye seconded the vote and suggested a trinomial 
system by which there should be two classificatory names and a 
descriptive one. Mr. Nicholson thought that it was imperative that 
any system should be universal, and agreed that names should so 
far as it was possible, also be descriptive. Messrs. Bell and 
May thought that final unanimity was an impossibility, but Mr. 
Prout in the course of his remarks, mentioned that the International 
Congress of Zoology was considering the matter of unanimity and that 
such a thing need not be despaired of. Mr. Prout saw no objection to 
the use of sections in splitting up unwieldy genera. He was of opinion 
that the resurrecting of original names had better be done now than 
perhaps later on. With reference to the trinomial system suggested, 
he saw some good in its use for purposes of writing. Mr. Dadd then 
replied to the vote of thanks accorded him. 
May 15th, 1900.—European Geometrids.— Mr. Prout exhibited 
some interesting Geometrids from various parts of Europe, including 
Acidalia perochrana from Innsbruck, A. rufaria, A. huniiliata, and 
strongly-marked Strenia clathrata from Wolfsberg. Cleoyene niveata 
from Sau Alpe. Strenia (/larearia from Ivor Alp, and variable Kmmeleda 
minorata from Heiligenblut. Several British insects were also shown 
which were to go into the Society’s cabinet. 
Piiaretra humicis. —Mr. Dadd, larvae of P. rumicis. 
Triph.-ena janthina. —Mr. Clark exhibited some T, janthina bred 
