NOMENCLATURE. 



So much has already been written on the subject of Zoological nomen- 

 clature that the only excuse I have for adding anything on the subject 

 is to give the reasons which have prompted me to adopt a somewhat 

 unusual course in treating this question, and to state explicitly on what 

 grounds I have adopted views differing radically from those of so many 

 naturalists. 



We seem apparently all agreed in considering synonymy our bete noire, 

 yet any attempt to introduce reform has invariably raised a general outcry, 

 and matters have been left to run their course unchanged. The question 

 naturally arises, if we can go on indefinitely as we are doing. Are we not 

 bringing Zoology into disrepute, lessening its scientific character, in allowing 

 a mere shuffling of names to pass as science and place itself as an immovable 

 barrier to all better work ? Most of us have at some time or other worked 

 up some monograph in which the questions of nomenclature have ab- 

 sorbed more time — and with no satisfactory result — than the remain- 

 ing scientific portions of the paper. Is it not possible . to adopt some 

 nomenclature which will make it clear to all what we mean without in- 

 volving this great loss of time ? In all matters of nomenclature there are 

 two main points to be brought out conspicuously : in the first place, the 

 original name of the species we are discussing ; and in the second place, its 

 present position in the Zoological System. The notation to be adopted for 

 these two points would seem to be simple enough, and so it would be were 

 we to speak of a species always by its original name ; but when we attempt, 

 by the notation commonly received, to give a succinct history not only of 

 the species, but also of the name of the species, it is not remarkable we have 

 failed to define clearly so much with such a defective nomenclature. Avail- 

 ability in practice must, after all, modify any principles, which may work 

 very well as far as one class is concerned. If the principles are conducive 

 to present stability and direct research again into its proper channel, the 

 object is gained ; for to obtain ultimate stability of nomenclature is as hope- 



