150 Observations on Rules for Nomenclature. 



Art. VII. Observations on "Rules for Nomenclature" By W. 

 Ogilby, Esq. M.A. F.R.A.S. F.L.S. F.G.S. F.Z.S. &c. &c. 



In the November number of the Magazine of Natural Histo- 

 ry, (Vol. I. N. s. p. 604), I find a communication from Mr. H. 

 E. Strickland, under the title of "Objections to the nomencla- 

 ture employed by Mr. Ogilby," which my absence in Germa- 

 ny at the time of its publication, and other engagements since 

 my return home, have hitherto prevented me from noticing. — 

 As Mr. Strickland's "objections" all turn upon the nonconfor- 

 mity of the nomenclature in question, to certain "rules" lately 

 published by himself and some other naturalists, it might per- 

 haps be a sufficient answer, to remind him, that these rules 

 make no part of zoology, that they are in their nature purely 

 arbitrary and dogmatical, that their only legitimate object is 

 convenience, and that no naturalist is bound to follow them 

 farther than he finds them conducive to that purpose. But 

 the courtesy which is due to a gentleman who states his ob- 

 jections in so fair and candid a spirit, as well as to Mr. Strick- 

 land personally, for whom I entertain the highest respect, as 

 an accurate and original observer, demands a more detailed 

 explanation of my views upon this subject ; and if the posi- 

 tive mischief which I shall point out, in many cases, as hav- 

 ing resulted from these gags upon nomenclature, these scien- 

 tific thumb-screws, these verbal crucibles, in which every 

 original name is to be melted down and re-compoimded, as 

 may best suit the fancy or the caprice of the presiding alche- 

 mist, — if this positive mischief leads me to employ strong 

 terms in reprobating the system from which it springs, I beg 

 leave to assure all those concerned in the matter, that my cen- 

 sure is directed simply against the system itself, and by no 

 means intended to apply to its abettors or supporters. I 

 know, indeed, that the conceit of imposing these practical 

 fetters upon scientific nomenclature, did not originate in the 

 present day, and that it had formerly one or two great names 

 to support it ; I grant that a few simple "rules for nomencla- 

 ture," if founded upon principles so palpable and indisputa- 

 ble as to command the unanimous assent of naturalists, would 

 be both convenient and useful ; but it is the abuse of this 

 wholesome principle, the arbitrary, dogmatical, unfounded 

 and unnecessary rules lately revived or imagined, that I de- 

 sire to reprobate ; and I hope my censure may be understood 

 as being directed solely against an abuse pregnant with so 

 many evils. 



It is not my intention to criticise these mischievous "rules" 

 seriatim : any one who takes the trouble of reading and com- 



