SPECIFIC NAMES. 379 



Specific names should be formed on similar 

 principles to the generic ones ; 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 Bankaia sei'rafa, infc^ 

 grifol'ta, (lenfafa, &c. ; but perhaps those 

 M'hich express something equally certain, but 

 not comprehended in that character, are still 

 more useful, as conveying additional informa- 

 tion, like Liora alba and coccinea, Sdcran- 

 thus annuus and pei'cnnis, Ahfris fragransy 

 Sax'ifraga 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 erlcij'olia, Andromeda salicifolia^, 

 Saaifraga bn/oides. Milium ci?nicinin?i, Elfj^ 

 ?nus Hystrix^ Pedicularis Sceptrum. Names 

 \vhich express the local situations of diflerent 

 species are excellent, such as Mdampijrum 



* Some botanists write ericcpfoUa, sai'ichfoliay IbigucB" 

 form'is, &c., instead oF following the analogy of the La- 

 tin in forming adjectives with an i, as palm'ifer from 

 palma, ce ; haccifer, from lacca, cc ; harliger, from 

 licrba, cu ; Sec. 



