88 [Setpember, 1841. 



While on the subject of the nomenclature of natural history, 

 there is an evil which is growing so rapidly as to deserve notice; 



That is, the custom when genera are sub-divided, or species 

 transposed from one genus to another, to credit the old species to 

 the naturalist who constitutes the new, or even modifies the name of 

 an old genus ; thus depriving the original describer of his species, 

 because it is associated with another series of species, or because 

 the termination of its latin name be altered to suit the altered gender 

 of the genus. In this way Linneus has been robbed of a large 

 portion of his labours ; not by Lamarck, for he appears to have 

 been superior to such littleness ; but by later naturalists, who have 

 credited the old species of Linnaeus, to Lamarck as an authority 

 and precedent for their own innovations and appropriations. When 

 fairly viewed, it can hardly fail to strike every disinterested mind, 

 that the credit of the original description of a species should remain 

 with the describer; he described the characters of a group, a spe- 

 cies, and whether that species belongs to one or another genus, his 

 description of its character must remain : indeed there is no show 

 of any attempt to change such description ; and if in the progress 

 of science, new divisions of genera, or translations of species 

 from one genus to another be found necessary ; then credit the 

 generic change to the constitutor of the genus, and the species to 

 its original describer, thus Planorbis Corneus. Lin. Lam. This, 

 besides being strictly just to all parties, would have the effect of 

 preventing useless and absurd modifications, by removing one of 

 the chief incentives the having the name of the innovator tacked 

 to specific names. 



MEETING FOR BUSINESS, September 28, 1841. 



Dr. Goddard, in the Chair. 



The corresponding Secretary's report was read and adopted. 

 The committee on Mr. Haldeman's paper, " Description of 



