LIXX^EUS AND NATURAL HISTORY 127 



kinds or species became Canis lupus, the wolf, Canis vulpes, 

 the fox, Canis familiar is, the common dog. This simple 

 method took the place of the varying names applied to the 

 same animal in different countries and local names in the 

 same country. It recognized at once their generic likeness 

 and their specific individuality. 



All animals, plants, and minerals were named according 

 to this method. Thus there were introduced into nomencla- 

 ture two groups, the genus and the species. The name of 

 the genus was a noun, and that of the species an adjective 

 agreeing with it. In the choice of these names Linnaeus 

 sought to express some distinguishing feature that would be 

 suggestive of the particular animal, plant, or mineral. The 

 trivial, or specific, names were first employed by Linnaeus in 

 1749, and were introduced into his Species Plantarum in 

 1753, and into the tenth edition of his Sy sterna Natures in 



1758. 



We recognize Linnaeus as the founder of nomenclature in 

 natural history, and by the common consent of naturalists 

 the date 1758 has come to be accepted as the starting-point 

 for determining the generic and specific names of animals. 

 The much vexed question of priority of names for animals is 

 settled by going back to the tenth edition of his Sy sterna Na- 

 turcr, while the botanists have adopted his Species Plantarum, 

 1753, as their base-line for names. As to his larger divisions 

 of animals and plants, he recognized classes and orders. Then 

 came genera and species. Linnaeus did not use the term 

 family in his formulae; this convenient designation was first 

 used and introduced in 1780 by Batch. 



The Systema Natura is not a treatise on the organization 

 of animals and plants; it is rather a catalogue of the produc- 

 tions of nature methodically arranged. His aim in fact was 

 not to give full descriptions, but to make a methodical 

 arrangement. 



