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scientists at home and abroad as standard works of great value. 
The particular field of his investigations had previously been but 
little worked, but his labors have stimulated research in these very 
attractive by-paths of science. He will long be remembered by 
those who were his friends and correspondents, for his kindliness 
of heart, as well as for his conscientious care in the department of 
science to which he devoted the energies of his later years. 
C. H. Kain. 
A Simple Point in Nomenclature. 
In these later days it may be said that the “air is filled” with 
discussions on this perplexing subject, and we have all sorts of 
suggested reforms looking toward the ultimate stability of our 
plant-names. The Committee appointed by the American Asso- 
ciation will undoubtedly give us a valuable set of working rules 
at the approaching Madison meeting, but while they are concern- 
ing themselves with the weightier problems, I take the liberty of 
calling to their attention a very small point upon which it would 
perhaps be well to have an authoritative ruling. This question is: 
When it is desired to question either of the members of a plant- 
name, where shall the question mark be placed? This seems a 
very trivial question, but, judging from the variation in its use, it 
is not properly appreciated. 
Suppose for example that a botanist is working up a collection 
of plants and finds one which seems to be Ranunculus aquatilis, L., 
but the material is not sufficient to be positive. In a printed 
enumeration how will this doubt be expressed? The following 
forms [given as models] have all been abundantly observed: 
? Ranunculus aquatilis, L.; Ranunculus ? aquatilis,L.; Ranunculus 
aquatilis? L.; Ranunculus aquatilis, L.?, with the further variation 
of placing them all in brackets. 
If, as is ordinarily understood, the interrogation mark questions 
the word which it follows, we shall clearly have a state of affairs 
not only contradictory but ngt contemplated in many cases. In 
a great majority of instances it is probable that the intention is to 
question the species, but such indiscriminate use of the question 
mark can only lead to confusion, when it is remembered that there 
are at least three separate and distinct things which it is some- 
