1 56 Observations on Rules for Nomenclature. 



mammifere, for British naturalization. There can be no he- 

 sitation as to our choice : mammal and mammals are in every 

 point of view preferable to mammifere and mammiferes : first 

 because they have the priority in point of time, having been 

 originally invented by the great Linnaeus, and introduced into 

 our language in the year 1832 ; (see Penny Cyclopedia, vol. 

 i. p. 2.); secondly, because they are simple, and formed ac- 

 cording to the strict analogies both of the Latin and English 

 languages, being derived from mamma, a breast or udder, in 

 the same way as animal and animals, from anima, a mind or 

 spirit ; thirdly, because on account of their simplicity, they 

 are forcible ; fourthly, because they are harmonious, and a- 

 dapted to the genius of our language ; and fifthly, because 

 they can never lead to error, or convey a false impression. — 

 Mammifere and Mammiferes, on the contrary, are French 

 parvenus, which rose to notice at that wild epoch of revolu- 

 tionary innovation, when every word and thing was rejected, 

 that could not boast a French origin, and even the days of the 

 week and the months of the year had new names imposed up- 

 on them; they were not used in English till the year 1835 ; 

 they are compound terms, harsh and rugged in their sound 

 and structure ; totally imadapted to the spirit and analogies 

 of our language ; and imply the erroneous idea that all mam- 

 mals have externally developed udders, (which is not the case 

 in either of the extensive orders of Marsupialia* or Cetacea), 

 because fero is opposed to capio in its sense of containing, and 

 has an external reference, as this has an internal. Mammal, 

 mammals ; marsupial, marsupials ; animal, animals ; are all 

 simple, analogous terms, formed according to the strict philo- 

 sophical principles of general grammar, and consonant with 

 the euphony of the English language : but if we are to have 

 mammifere and mammiferes, then in the name of consistency, 

 let us also have the other barbarisms, marsupifere, marsupi- 

 feres, and animafere, animaferes, if it be only for the sake 

 of that uniformity and regularity of structure, which are the 

 soul of all cultivated languages ; and which it is the great aim 

 of "rules for nomenclature" to secure to the language of sci- 

 ence. In this instance, we can gain this important advantage 

 without the sacrifice of any scientific object; on the contrary, 

 science and the English language will both be equally bene- 



* I may here notice that some of our English naturalists use marsupiata; 

 this is incorrect, unless as a qualifying term : animalia marsupiata, mam- 

 malia marsupiata, &c. are proper enough ; but marsupiata should never be 

 employed alone; it is an adjective, to which the corresponding substantive 

 is marsupialia, and this term alone is admissible as the name of the order 

 in question. 



