Bibliographical Notices. 88l^ 



donors of each. As a large portion of the collection consists of ti/pe- 

 specimens, i. e. of the actual individuals on which explorers and na- 

 turalists have founded their definitions of new species, this exact 

 identification of each specimen becomes peculiarly necessary. 



Such being the scientific importance of these catalogues, it is sa- 

 tisfactory to find that the laborious task of preparing them is in ge- 

 neral executed with judgement and accuracy. The classification is 

 in conformity with the most recent researches, the scientific names 

 are based upon the "law of priority," the synonyms are fully enu- 

 merated, and the individual specimens are indicated with precision. 

 The plan of the catalogues is therefore very good ; still it is not 

 perfect, and as they are the commencement of a series which may 

 have considerable influence on the progress of zoology, we shall not 

 hesitate to point out the defects which occur to us. 



In the first place, every species of mammal and of bird is indicated 

 by a so-called English name, which precedes the Latin or systematic 

 one. Of the expediency of this regulation we have great doubt. The 

 vast majority of foreign species never have had, and never can have, 

 a vernacular English designation, simply because mankind have no 

 occasion to speak of them in common discourse. The authors of the 

 catalogues have therefore been obliged to manufacture English names 

 for such species as did not possess them already, and these names 

 will be useless to the multitude and unintelligible to the scientific ; 

 they are therefore an incumbrance to the catalogue, loading the 

 memory if retained in it, and increasing the liabilities to error. We 

 ought rather to induce the unlearned to speak the language of sci- 

 ence, than tempt the scientific to descend to vulgarity. Let us re- 

 member how greatly Buffon retarded zoological science by his jealous 

 opposition to the admirable nomenclature of Linnaeus, and the influ- 

 ence of that fascinating writer still operates too strongly on the con- 

 tinent. Should the arrangements of our national Museum ever ac- 

 custom British naturalists to use a vernacular terminology in pre- 

 ference to the Linnsean one, it will be a most serious detriment to 

 the progress of science. 



We believe that these English names are employed rather in 

 obedience to a popular desire, than from any value attached to them 

 by the scientific oflficers of the Museum. Nor do we object to the 

 introduction of English names where those names are currently 

 established, as in the case of the leopard, mole, fox, eagle, &c., for 

 such terms convey a distinct idea to the unlearned mind ; but the 

 ordinary spectator might as well learn the scientific name at once, 

 as acquire such, to him, new and difficult appellations as the Caco- 

 mixle, the Ratlamutchi, the Buansuah, &c. &c. At any rate, if John 

 Bull will insist on a complete English nomenclature, it may at least 

 be made the means of giving him some notion of zoological princi- 

 ples, by making the names as nearly as possible an echo of the Latin 

 binomial ones. Thus Halmaturus elegans might be rendered " the 

 elegant Halmature ;" Talegalla australis, " the Australian Tale- 

 galla ;" Elanus melanopterus , " the black- winged Elanus," and so on. 

 Whereas at present the names on the specimens and in the cata- 



