10 ERYTHEA. 



I will not multiply instances. But the worst of it is that 

 those who have carefully studied the subject know that, from 

 various causes which I cannot afford the time to discuss, 

 when once it is attempted to disturb accepted nomenclature, 

 it is almost impossible to reach finality. Many genera only 

 exist by virtue of their redefinition in modern times; in the 

 form in which they were originally promulgated they have 

 hardly any intelligible meaning at all. 



It can hardly be doubted that one cause of the want of 

 attention which systematic botany now receives is the 

 repulsive labor of the bibliographical work with which it 

 has been overlaid. What an enormous bulk nomenclature 

 has already attained may be judged from the Index 

 Kewensis, which was prepared at Kew, and which we owe to 

 the munificence of Mr. Darwin. In his own studies he con- 

 stantly came on the track of names which he was unable to 

 run down to their source. This the Index enables to be 

 done. It is based, in fact, on a manuscript index which we 

 compiled for our own use at Kew. Bat it is a mistake to 

 suppose that it is anything more than the name signifies, or 

 that it expresses any opinion as to the validity of the names 

 themselves. That those who use the book must judge of for 

 themselves. We have indexed existing names, but we have 

 not added to the burden by making any new ones for species 

 already described. 



What synonymy has now come to may be judged by an 

 example supplied me by my friend, Mr. C. B. Clarke. For 

 a single species of Fimbristylis he finds 135 published 

 names under six genera. If we go on in this way we shall 

 have to invent a new Linnaeus, wipe out the past, and begin 

 all over again. 



Although I have brought the matter before the Section it 

 is not one in which this, or indeed any collective assembly 

 of botanists, can do very much. While I hope I shall carry 

 your assent with the general principles I have laid down, it 

 must be admitted that the technical details can only be 

 appreciated by experienced specialists. All that can be 



