Mr J. D. Dana on Nomenclature in Natural History, 305 



in honour of the discoverer, should end in the genitive /, or 

 ii (^, when the name ends in a consonant, and it when in a 

 vowel) ; but when in compliment to a person not a discoverer, 

 the adjective should end in anus. But names derived from 

 the names of persons or localities are very objectionable : 

 see beyond, § 6, 6, c. 



in. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE IMPROVEMENT OP 

 SYSTEMATIC NOMENCLATURE. 



The following suggestions, although they cannot be in- 

 vested with the authority of laws, are worthy of being strictly 

 regarded in the future introduction of scientific names. 



§ 5. The best names are those derived from the Greek or 

 Latin language, the former being in general preferable for 

 generic names, and the latter for specific. 



§ 6. It is desirable, — 



a. To select names which may indicate some sensible 

 characteristic of the object : this will greatly aid the memory. 



h. To avoid specific names derived from localities. 



c. To avoid invariably deriving generic and specific names 

 from the names of persons. 



d. To avoid comparative names, such as PicoideSy Emberi- 

 zoides, maximus. minor ^ minimus, &c. 



e. To avoid ancient names of species, except when they 

 can be correctly applied with their ancient signification. 



/. To avoid names closely resembling others in use. 



g. To avoid names having no meaning. 



h. To avoid the introduction, under a new signification, of 

 names that have been once ranked among synonyms, except 

 in the cases alluded to in § 2, c. 



i. To avoid making a generic name out of a former specific 

 name. 



k. To avoid introducing for a genus in Zoology a name 

 already in use for a genus in Botany, and the reverse. 



/. To avoid names of harsh and inelegant pronunciation. 



§ 7. It is recommended that names of Families should end 

 uniformly in idee, and Subfamilies in ince. 



These names are formed by changing the last syllable of 

 the genitive into idoB or inw ; as Strix gives Strigidce, from the 

 genitive Strigis ; Buceros gives Bucerotidw, from the genitive 

 Bucerotis ; not Strixidw, Buceridcp. 



