1S9 9] REFORMED NOMENCLATURE ! 95 



in botany and zoology. No one can profit by the 800,000 names 

 recognised by naturalists. For who can tell from the name any- 

 thing about the nature of Mormops megalophytta, Sphaeria sobolifera, 

 etc., etc. One cannot even say whether one is dealing with plants or 

 reptiles, with crustaceans or zoophytes ! 



It seems then worthy of consideration whether we should not in 

 current usage suppress the generic name, and leave it for the lists and 

 treatises of specialists, whether we should not in current usage substi- 

 tute for the generic title some composite term indicative of the class 

 and family to which the organism belongs. 



Thus all the names of mammals might begin with the syllables 

 Mammi, and end with abbreviations indicative of the family. Thus 

 we would suggest Mammicanae lupus, Mammivcspertae megalophytta, 

 Mammilcporae or Mammileporus euniculus. 



If there are two ecpiivalent specific names in the same family, one 

 might add the complete generic name in brackets. 



He goes on to suggest — 



Avigallinae domesticus. 

 Rcptilacertiae occllata. 

 Piseipcrcidae flu riatilis. 

 Mollushhclicac aspersa. 

 Lcgumputpilliac sativus. 

 Insect icarabac auratus. 

 Echiniholotli uriae regedis. 

 Arachniacariae sea biei. 



Such a procedure seems to him easy and logical. The radicals Mammi-, 

 Avi-, Crypto-, Insecti-, recall the sulphates, carbonates, ethyls, etc., etc., 

 of the chemists ; and would not vary in any important degree within 

 a century. It seems the only way of securing a universal biological 

 terminology, and besides saving an infinitude of time, it would 

 conform to the mode of the exacter science of chemistry. Such is 

 Mr. Herrera's suggestion. It should make the sticklers for terminology 

 ' sit up.' 



Science and Conduct. 



Those who, taking an interest not only in science but in human 

 conduct, desire to harmonise their conceptions of the one and the 

 other, should not fail to study Prof. Miinsterberg's recent volume on 

 " Psychology and Life." l It is not light reading. As the author says in 

 his Preface — " I do not want to entertain by these papers, I want to 

 fight ; to fight against dangers which I see in our public life and our 

 education, in art and science ; and only those who intend serious and 



1 Archibald Constable and Company. Pp. xiv. + 286. Price 6s. net. 



