SPECIFIC NAMES. 379 



Specific names should be formed on similar 

 principles to the generic onf s ; but some ex- 

 ceptions are allowed, not only without incon- 

 venience, but with great advantage. Such 

 as express the essential specific character are 

 unexceptionable, as Bauksia serrata, inte- 

 grifolia, dentata, &c; but perhaps those 

 which express something equally certain, but 

 no,t comprehended in that character, are still 

 more useful, as conveying additional informa- 

 tion, like Ixora alba and coccinea, Scleran- 

 thns annum and peremtis, Aletris fragrans, 

 Saxifraga cernua, &c; for which reason it is 

 often useful that vernacular names should 

 not be mere translations of the Latin ones. 

 Comparative appellations are very good, as 

 Banksia ePicifolia, Andromeda salicifoUa *, 

 Saxifraga bry aides. Milium cimicinum, Ely*- 

 tnus Hystrix, Pedicularis Sceptrum. Names 

 which express the local situations of different 

 species are excellent, such as Mtlampyrum 



* Some botanists write ericcefolia, salicisfnlirt, Unguce- 

 formis^ he, instead of following the analogy of the La- 

 tin in forming adjectives with an i, as palmifcr from 

 palma, ce; laccifer, from bacca, ce ; larbiger, from 

 barla, ee ; &c. 



