522 REMARKS UPON ZOOLOGICAL NOMENCLATURE. 



tions, as it is my intention that these matters shall hereafter form the 

 subject of a paper upon English zoological nomenclature. The above 

 illustration alone will be sufficient to make those who complain of the 

 hard words used in science, sensible of the necessity which induced 

 Linnaeus and others, who found that it was totally impossible to make 

 known the histories of things without names, to invent a scientific 

 nomenclature. 



The Latin and Greek languages, from their being the most universally 

 understood, were wisely selected as the best sources from which to 

 obtain names for nature's productions. Hence every animal, from the 

 huge whale down to the smallest being with which we are acquainted, 

 has its Latin or Greek name. The names of genera are, for the 

 most part, of Greek derivation : whilst the names of species are some- 

 times of Greek, but more frequently, of Latin derivation. We can 

 rarely ascertain the specific name of any animal or plant, otherwise 

 than by possessing a knowledge of the permanent characters belonging 

 to the genera composing the class to which it relates, or by reference 

 to figures or cabinets. It is less difficult to ascertain the generic than 

 the specific name, owing to there being a less number of the former 

 than there are of the latter, and many species, particularly of the 

 smaller animals, bear so close a resemblance to each other, that their 

 differences, which are often exceedingly slight, frequently escape 

 observation. 



It should be the aim of every nomenclator to bestow only such 

 names upon animals, as will express the peculiar forms, habits, &c. of 

 the species to which they respectively apply ; if they fail in this 

 particular, scientific names are but of little worth. This important 

 point, however, is unfortunately too much disregarded, for it has long 

 been the absurd fashion to make the specific, and even some of the 

 generic names, bear allusion to men. What benefit does a student 

 derive from knowing that there are certain species, bearing such names 

 as Clarkella, Brownella, Harrisella, Smithella, and the like terms, 

 which only serve to glorify those whose paltry conceited minds are 

 gratified at the idea of having obtained a little celebrity for themselves, 

 by the shortest and easiest method. The practice of obtaining names 

 for genera and species from the heathen mythology, is also objectionable, 

 as majiy persons cannot very readily perceive in what way they are 

 applicable, on account of their not being acquainted with the fabulous 

 narrations related therein. Although the names of animals are never 

 so appropriate and so easy to remember as when they have reference to 



