LINN^US' NOMENCLATURE. 4I 



It consists in this, that every species of animal and plant is 

 designated by two names, which stand to each other in the 

 same relation as do the christian and surnames of a man. 

 The special name which corresponds with the christian 

 name, and expresses the idea of " a species," serves as the 

 common designation of all individual animals or plants, 

 which are equal in all essential matters of form, and are 

 only distinguished by quite subordinate features. The more 

 general name, on the other hand, corresponding with the 

 surname, and which expresses the idea of a genus, serves for 

 the common designation of all the most nearly similar kinds 

 or species. 



According to Linnaeus' plan, the more general and compre- 

 hensive generic name is written first ; the special subor- 

 dinate name of the species follows it. Thus, for example, 

 the common cat is called Felis domestica; the wild cat, 

 Felis catus ; the panther, Felis pardus ; the jaguar, Felis onca ; 

 the tiger, Felis tigris ; the lion, Felis leo. All these six kinds 

 of animals of prey are different species of one and the 

 same genus — Felis. Or, to add an example from the vege- 

 table kingdom, according to Linnseus' designation the pine 

 is Pinus abies ; the fir, Pinus picea ; the larch, Pinus larix ; 

 the Italian pine, Pinus pinea ; the Siberian stone pine, Pinus 

 cembra ; the knee timber, Pinus mughus ; the common pine, 

 Pinus silvestris. All these seven kinds of pines are different 

 species of one and the same genus — Pinus. 



Perhaps this advance made by Linnaeus may seem to some 

 only of subordinate importance in the practical distinction 

 and designation of the variously formed organisms. But in 

 reality it was of the very greatest importance, both from a 

 practical and theoretical point of view. For now, for the 



