OP NOMENCLATURE. 625 



greatest merit in science, and if everything else should be forgotten that 

 he has done, this, which is wholly his work, will secure his name from 

 forgetfulness. 



354. 



The groups to be distinguished by separate names are those of which 

 we have treated in the first chapter of this section ; for every species, 

 genus, and higher group has its distinct name. With respect to the 

 form of these names, Linnaeus determined that the names of genera, 

 and of all the higher groups should be substantives, whereas those of 

 species must be adjectives which should refer to the substantive name 

 of the genus. This mode of distinction has the advantage of requiring 

 fewer substantives than if all the species were to be named by them ; 

 and also the same distinguishing adjective can be applied in many 

 genera, which would not be the case if substantives were used. It is 

 indeed also allowed to use substantives as the names of species, but 

 then they are proper names, and are not to be understood without the 

 addition of the genus. Thus Linnams distinguished most of the but- 

 terflies by giving them mythological or historical names, for example, 

 Papilio Priamus, P. Hector, P. Hecuba, &c. 



355. 



The structure of the generic name, as the chief word for the distinc- 

 tion of the lowest groups, will first occupy us. The most appropriate 

 name for a genus would certainly be that which at the same time cha- 

 racterises it. Fabricius, indeed, maintained optima nornina, qua omnino 

 nil significant, but we do not participate in this opinion ; a name 

 that expresses a character is in every case better than an absolutely 

 foreign and unmeaning one. But every one in this may follow his 

 own opinion, and he who has discovered a genus has the privilege of 

 naming it, be it by cities (Edessa}, rivers (Ha/ys), or heroes (Poly- 

 phemus), and maidens (Dapknia, Cypris). If, however, the name 

 expresses the character, and is formed for this purpose by composition, 

 this must follow the laws of grammar and language, and is not allowed 

 the same caprice as the choice of the name itself ; here choice can make 

 but the first step, all the rest are subject to immutable laws. By not 

 following these laws compound words have been recently formed, which 

 scarcely bear the least trace of what they should properly be, and 

 words have been made which neither Greeks nor Romans would admit 



s s 



