The Zoologist/4th series, vol 5 (1901)/Issue 715/Editorial Gleanings

by editor W.L. Distant

 

EDITORIAL GLEANINGS.

 

---

 

'Index Animalium.'—By 'Index Animalium' is meant an index to the generic and trivial names (which together make the specific name) given to all animals, whether fossil or recent, by all authors between the years 1758 and 1900. Such an index aims at providing (1) a complete list, (2) a complete entry for proper quotation, (3) an exact date to each entry. The compilation of this great list was commenced by Mr. C. Davies-Sherborn in 1889, and the MS. is housed under the care of Dr. Henry Woodward at the British Museum (Nat. Hist.). Dr. Woodward, who, with the late Sir W. Flower and Dr. Günther, takes special interest in the work, offered the loan of the necessary cabinets for the slips, and the space necessary for the cabinets, so as to ensure safety from fire or other destructive agencies. The British Association, the Royal Society, and the Zoological Society have assisted with funds; while other Societies have assisted with books, or given various facilities for study. The present Committee appointed by the British Association consists of Dr. Henry Woodward (Chairman), Dr. Sclater, Mr. Hoyle, the Sev. T.R. Stebbing, Mr. McLachlan, and Mr. Bather. About two years ago Dr. Sclater suggested that a special effort should be made to get ready for publication the first portion (1758–1800). This has now been done, and the question of printing is under discussion. At the same time it may be mentioned that many thousands of slips belonging to the 1801–1850 portion are already prepared, and the printing of one part and the compilation of the other will go on simultaneously. Such a labour of love—for it really amounts to that—should prove of considerable use to those who live away from libraries; while to librarians it will be of incalculable benefit, if it only induces a proper method of quotation, instead of the slipshod present method, only too common even among entomologists. A special point about the references is that they include not only the original, but also each case in which the trivial name has been associated with another generic name. The compiler has carefully avoided synonymy, and has arranged his entries under species in one alphabet, in which the generic names fall into their proper places. During the progress of the work Mr. Sherborn has published numerous papers on the dates of books that were issued in parts, perhaps the most valuable of which to an entomologist are those dealing with Hübner and Esper. It is calculated that Part I. will deal with 60,000 entries, and no doubt a great step will be gained as to exact nomenclature when the Index issues from the press.

 

---

 

It has long been known that certain beetles, notably the Longicorns, squeak loudly when excited, the sound being produced by the friction of a file-like area on some part of the body against an adjoining edge as the parts are moved rapidly over one another. Stridulating organs seem, however, to be far more common among beetles, and much more diversified in position, than has hitherto been thought to be the case. Mr. C.J. Gahan, giving an account of these organs in the 'Transactions' of the Entomological Society (Part III. 1900), has enumerated several genera and not a few families in which their presence had previously been barely suspected, if not altogether unknown. The Longicorns, it would appear, can no longer claim to contain the greatest relative number of stridulating species, for in this respect they are exceeded by the Megalopidæ, while the Endomychidæ, Clythridæ, and Hispidæ seem to run them very close. The Tenebrionidæ also, and the Curculionidæ, furnish a considerable number of stridulating genera; and Mr. Gahan has shown that in the latter family the stridulating organs are not restricted to the males, as stated by Landois, but are frequently found also in the females, in some genera in the same position as in the male, in others in a different position. Genera of other families also are mentioned, in which the stridulating organs differ in position or structure according to sex, or are found in one sex only, usually the male. Darwin believed that the stridulating organs of beetles, like those of Crickets and Grasshoppers, serve as a sexual call, and have been gradually perfected by a process of sexual selection. Mr. Gahan, while accepting this view so far as it relates to the majority of adult beetles, points out that it is quite inapplicable to the stridulating organs discovered by Schiodte in the larvæ of several forms, some of which are even more perfectly developed than in any of the adult insects. Amongst other interesting facts to which he calls attention, is the great resemblance in position and structure which the stridulating organs of genera belonging to totally distinct families may have to each other, while at the same time the position of these organs may be quite different in genera belonging to one and the same family.

 

---

 

We have received a 'Guide to the Zoological Collections exhibited in the Bird Gallery of the Indian Museum' (Calcutta), by Mr. F. Finn. This is a primer on Indian Ornithology rather than a list of names or an enumeration of species. With this guide any fairly intelligent visitor who would take the trouble to read and examine the birds would return with some knowledge of avian matters of a sound and useful character. It is published by the Trustees of the Indian Museum.