64 CODE OF NOMENCLATURE. 



is peculiarly annoying to the etymologist, who after seeking in vain through 

 the vast storehouses of human language for the parentage of such words, 

 discovers at last that he has been pursuing an ignis fatnns" {B. A. Code.) 

 n. Indicate the etymology of each name proposed. While it is not now 

 intended that names erroneously constructed shall be subject to emendation 

 (see above, Canon XL. and Remarks), it is highly desirable that the etymol- 

 ogy of all generic names newly proposed should be clearly indicated. 



12. Avoid names of great length, or of harsh and inelegant pronunciation. 

 Words of more than five syllables should as far as possible be avoided. In 

 the construction of names it is obvious that euphony should be regarded. 

 Thus such names as Eschscholtzi, Sylviorthorhynchus, Strigymnhemipns, 

 Synthliborhamphus, XiphidiorhyncJtus, Wiirmizusume, etc., are decidedly 

 objectionable. 



13. Avoid comparative names. Specific names expressive of compara- 

 tive size, as minor, minimus, maxiiints, should be avoided, as they may be 

 rendered inaccurate by the later discovery of additional species. Names 

 denoting resemblance to another species or genus should be also avoided, as 

 Picoides, Emberizoides, Pseudoluscinia, inbeculoides, etc. (B. A. Code.) 



14. Generic names compounded from those of other genera, if not too 

 long, and properly formed (not made corrupt by trying to render them 

 shorter), may sometimes be adopted with advantage, since they serve to 

 express the position of a genus intermediate between, or allied with, two 

 other genera. {B. A. Code.) 



15. Avoid making a wrong application of the ancient names of animals. 

 Names of animals found in classic authors have in numerous cases been 

 applied at random to exotic genera or species wholly unknown to the 

 ancients. This practice should be discouraged. The use, however, of an- 

 cient names, when correctly applied, is most desirable, for it is better in 

 framing scientific terms to select old words than to form new ones. (B. A. 

 Code.) 



16. In modifying existing names as, for instance, of genera in naming 

 subgenera or sections, or of species in designating allied species by means 

 of prefixes and suffixes, the following precautions should receive attention. 

 Before a Greek derivative cu- and pseudo- may be used, the former espe- 

 cially in modifying generic names ; after a Greek derivative, -astntm, -aides, 

 or -opsis. Before a Latin derivative, sub- may be used ; after it, -ella, -UH/J, 

 -ina, -itcs, etc. The prefix at- may be used before generic names ; the pre- 

 fixes sub- and pseudo- should be restricted to specific names ; the suffixes are 

 applicable to either generic or specific names. Usage has justified to some 

 extent the application of these modifications to words of uncertain etymology 

 or arbitrary formation, in connection with which Greek syllables should be 

 entirely avoided. So far as specific names are concerned, pseudo- may be 

 employed when it is desired to connect the name of a species with another 

 with which it has been confounded. The suffixes -ella, -una, -ina, are used in 



