302 ON SCIENTIFIC NOMENCLATURE. 



A. oreopteris. — On a bank in a wet field below Llyn Vaur. 



A. spinulosum. — In the woods at Pont Nedd Vechan. 



Cistopteris fragilis. — Abundant on the rocks above Craig-y-Dinas. 



Asplenium viride. — Beautifully adorning the rocks within reach of the spray 

 of Sgwd-yr-Hen-Rhyd and Cil Hepste Falls. 



Equisetum sylvaticum.~- 'Between the Mellte river and Schwd-y-gladis. 



A botanist is of course always anxious to seize a rare plant, but the notifi- 

 cation of such a capture, especially in the case of doubtful species, is very 

 tantalizing to a traveller who may follow in his steps. I have, therefore, aimed 

 at distinguishing plants that may be found again in the localities named, thus 

 assisting the inquiring student, rather than at investing doubt in the robe of 

 rarity, thus leaving room for future correction, and engendering perpetual dis- 

 appointment. That further investigation of this district may probablv bring to 

 light " fairer flowers " than it has yet been my fortune to gather, no one is more 

 aware than myself. Such at a future time I may record, and in the interim 

 wish a successful campaign to all brother botanists. 



ON SCIENTIFIC NOMENCLATURE AND CLASSIFICATION, ILLUS- 

 TRATED BY AN ARRANGEMENT OF THE BRITISH FALCONIDjE. 



By R. H. Sweeting, Surgeon. 



The practice of using Greek words for the generic, and Latin for the specific 

 names of birds and other animals, did not originate with Mr. Any-one (see 

 p. 150), but was the invariable plan — whenever admissible — of the illustrious 

 Baron Cuvieb. The following are specimens, taken from his Regne Animal : — 

 Pernis aphorus, Caryocatactes nucifraga* Machetes pugnax. Classical names 

 for birds, &c, whether Greek or Latin, or Latin and Greek, ought, if truly 

 appropriate, to be considered equally admissible. Where both languages are 

 employed to designate species, I am quite of the opinion that the Greek should 

 take precedence of the Latin. 



I have been a very humble student of the delightful Book of Nature (particu- 

 larly as regards the birds of the British Islands) for many years past. I will, 

 however, only at present trouble you with my notions on the names and most 

 appropriate classification of one family, to which I have given my most parti- 



* We very much question whether our correspondent ever met with the name Caryocatactes 

 nucifraga in any edition of the Regne Animal : as far as we are aware, the only author who uses 

 it is Nilsson, in the Ornithologia Suecica.— Ed. 



