338 On the Propriety of altering 



even were there no other, why erroneous names should be 

 altered ; for if, as no unprejudiced person can deny, erro- 

 neous names retard the progress of the student, it is surely 

 t( the height of folly " to make the unavoidable difficulties in 

 the path of science a plea for adding others of our own creation. 

 And, besides, even granting, for an instant, that the substi- 

 tution of correct names for those which are erroneous did add 

 to the difficulties of science, would it be worthy of a rational 

 being to reject the truth because error is more easy of acquire- 

 ment? Were this principle followed throughout, what a 

 state would the world be in ! and it is owing to the number 

 of persons who have held this convenient doctrine, that the 

 human race is so much more backward than it would other- 

 wise have been. 



Mr. Strickland proceeds : — " From the excess of this 

 practice, the rectification of synonymes has become the most 

 laborious part of the process of compiling systematic works on 

 natural history ; which are, also, thus vastly increased in size 

 and price, and rendered more repulsive to the general reader/' 

 Mr. Strickland is quite right here : it is from the " excess " 

 of this practice that these evil results have followed; and, had 

 the writer throughout distinguished between the effects of a 

 practice in excess and in moderation, he would never have 

 exposed himself as he has done. He saw the evil consequences 

 resulting from the abuse of alteration, and hastily condemned 

 it altogether. " If a principle is good," says one of our first 

 naturalists, " its advantages will be more and more apparent, 

 the more it is followed out in detail" Few of Mr. Strick- 

 land's principles, however, would survive this test. If we 

 condemn a thing because its excess is prejudicial, the most 

 harmless and beneficial things would be denied us. Light, 

 heat, food, study, would alike be condemned by him ; for, he 

 would argue, if you give a man the opportunity of eating and 

 studying, 't is ten to one he will do both in excess ; and so 

 with alterations in nomenclature: if once you allow them, says 

 he, there is no knowing where they will stop. Reflecting and 

 unprejudiced men, however, are not to be taken in by such 

 fallacious reasoning, but will, on all occasions, advocate steady 

 and wholesome reform. 



Mr. Strickland then proceeds to ask, whether it can be 

 expected that " the whole republic of science will take the 

 trouble of relabeling their cabinets, altering their catalogues, 

 or making notes in their works of reference, because a writer 

 fancies he can improve an established name ? " Before this 

 question can be answered, there are two points to be ascer- 

 tained : first, is the established name objectionable? and, 



