The field naturalist's handbook / by J.G. Wood and Theodore Wood.

  • John George Wood
Date:
1886
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The field naturalist's handbook / by J.G. Wood and Theodore Wood. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    popular name is misleading, as it implies that the insect belongs to the group which comprises the Yellow Underwings, Red Underwings, Orange Underwings, &c., all of which belong to the Noctuce. I have, therefore, retained the old familiar names with this and other insects. One curious effect of this multiplication of genera has been that collectors almost invariably omit the generic name when they are speaking of a Moth, though not in writing about it. They will talk of Jacobceee, or JPulchella, or Pudibunda, hut never think of mentioning the generic name, except in cases where the same specific name is applied to several insects. As it is hoped that beginners will employ this work, I may add a piece of advice which those who are moderately experienced in entomology will not need. Never be without a note-hook, and make a point of entering in it every detail of any insect that may come under notice. Be sure to write legibly. No matter how insignificant the details may seem to he at the time, they will assume an unexpected importance in after years. Nearly all the additions made to entomological knowledge in the present work have been made by means of notes taken a considerable time ago. Lastly, comes the question of pronunciation. If all the names were formed, as they ought to he, from Greek and Latin words, there would he little difficulty in pronouncing them, and in cases of doubt a reference to a lexicon or a dictionary would settle the point. But, unfortunately, there are too many words which are utter barbarisms, and the worst of them are those which look classical hut are not. A simple example of this sort of word is the generic name of the honeysuckle, Lonicera. The latter half of the word looks as if it must he either Greek or Latin. In the former case it would he derived either from the word Keras, signifying, “a horn,” and the e would he short; or from Kerion, “ a honeycomb,” in which case it would he long. If derived from the Latin Cera, “s honeycomb,” it would still have a long e. But it is derived from none of these, and is not classical at all. It is merely a complimentary name, given to the honeysuckle in honour of Adam Lonice, a German botanist, who died about three hundred years ago.
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