50 CODE OF NOMENCLATURE. 



species, is not entitled to recognition, being merely a name, and therefore 

 having no status in nomenclature. It may, however, be brought later into 

 use, under the restrictions embodied in Canon XXXII. 



CANON XXXV. An author has no right to change or reject 

 names of his own proposing, except in accordance with rules 

 of nomenclature governing all naturalists, he having only the 

 same right as other naturalists over the names he has himself 

 proposed. 



REMARK. --This is so obvious, that it seems trite to dignify the matter 

 by formulation as a Canon ; yet not a few writers fail to recognize the fact, 

 and claim the right, not only to emend the orthography of names pro- 

 posed by themselves, but to change genera and subgenera by substituting 

 for them new types, and to use the original type as the basis of another new 

 genus. 



CANON XXXVI. A name resting solely on an inadequate 

 diagnosis is to be rejected, on the ground that it is indetermina- 

 ble and therefore not properly defined. 



CANON XXXVII. If an author describes a genus and does 

 not refer to it any species, either then or previously described, 

 the genus cannot be taken as established or properly defined, 

 unless the characters given have an unmistakable significance. 



CANON XXXVIII. A species cannot be considered as named 

 unless both generic and specific names have been applied to it 

 simultaneously, i. e., unless the species has been definitely re- 

 ferred to some genus. 



REMARKS. E. g., a West Indian Seal (ATonachus tropicalis Gray) was 

 once described by an author, who, because in doubt as to its generic affini- 

 ties, simply gave, as he says, "the trivial name Wilkianus for the species," 

 without referring it to any genus. Authorities, however, agree that a species 

 thus designated cannot be considered as named. 



CANON XXXIX. A name which has never been clearly de- 

 fined in some published work is to be changed for the earliest 

 name by which the object shall have been so defined, if such 

 name exist ; otherwise a new name is to be provided, or the 

 old name may be properly defined and retained, its priority and 

 authority to date from the time and author so defining it. 



