vi PREFACE. 



and no two herpetologists agree as to its extent, it appears much more natural and more for 

 the benefit of science to append the name of that man whose modification of the genus is 

 adopted, than to continue to quote Ablahes, Dum. & Bibr., which implies nothing beyond the 

 fact that the name is the creation of the French herpetologists. 



When elder authors thought themselves under the necessity of restricting a genus estab- 

 lished by a predecessor, they invariably followed the practice of retaining the original generic 

 name for the greater portion of the species. But this suits our modern reformers of zoolo- 

 gical nomenclature much less than the absolute rule, that the first species (perhaps the most 

 aberrant) should be considered as the type of the old genus. Are they of opinion that 

 Linnaeus considered Lacerta crocodilus, the first species of his genus Lacerta, as the type "? 

 In this case they will be obliged to cancel Cu\"ier's name of Crocodilus for that of Lacerta, 

 and to tack upon us a new name for our common Lizards ! 



Finally, I have to thank the Council of the Ray Society for the liberality with which they 

 invariably granted my requests, and allowed an excess far beyond the originally contemplated 

 limits of the work. My best thanks are due to Mr. Ford ; his work speaks for itself. 



A. G. 



Hampton Wick, 



31st May, 186i. 



