On Nomenclature. 427 



particular circumstance in which the several species agree. 

 An adjective attending each name of species should express 

 the difference of one species from another. 



But familiarity with names of the species first known has 

 caused the retention of such names to designate genera ; and 

 hence perhaps has arisen the practice of selecting an individual 

 or a species as a type, or generic term or standard, by reference 

 to which the difference of others from the type may be dis- 

 covered. The name does not in this case indicate the thing 

 sought, but the mode of finding it. 



To expect so great a revolution in scientific nomenclature, 

 as a universal substitution of descriptive for trivial names of 

 genera, would be vain ; but for higher divisions, for genera 

 of genera, orders, and classes, it may be expected that such 

 fitting of names to meanings may be adopted, as science ad- 

 vances towards completion, e. g., Mammalia, order Pinnata, 

 instead of Cetacea. Illiger makes two families of the order 

 Natantia : Fam. 1., Sirenia, mermen or maids, with three 

 genera, Manatus, Halicore, and Rytina. Fam. 2., Cete, six 

 genera. It is not of much importance to settle the question, 

 whether genus or families be the better designation of the 

 larger or smaller division. In speaking of social distribution, 

 we should certainly regard the species as more extended than 

 a family, the latter term implying the least division of society. 

 Perhaps Spiraculo-carentia would be preferable to Sirenia : 

 and Spiraculifera to Cete : or Unguiata and Exunguiata 

 might express another decisive distinction. 



The want of some generally admitted rule for the adapta- 

 tion of names, to various divisions above species, is obvious, 

 from this circumstance, that hardly any two naturalists divide 

 or name their objects, on the same plan ; while descriptions 

 are overladen with synonymes. 



Perhaps the British Association, which has met during the 

 two last years at Dublin and at Bristol, may be induced to at- 

 tempt the establishment of a few plain laws, and the rectifi- 

 cation of nomenclature on such a foundation. 



Illiger lays down from Linnaeus, in the introduction to his 

 Prodromus, some rules of good general application. His 

 division is into orders, families, genera, and species. He 

 states thus : — 



In distinguishing families I have preferred Latin easy 

 names to Greek, which are, to the generality, more difficult. 

 Yet, the first family of order Bisulca is named Tylopoda ! 

 Many readers of Greek may have never met with the word 

 roXa, or tuX»), or tuXoj, a callus or callosity. The first family 



ii 2 



