Bacteria and Viruses 33 



Chapter 3. Sect. 1. Naming of Taxa 



RULE 6. The name of a species is a binary combination consisting of the 

 name of the genus followed by a single specific epithet. If an epithet con- 

 sists of two or more words, these must either be united or hyphenated. 

 NOTE. A specific epithet consisting of two or more words not joined by 

 hyphens when originally published is not to be rejected, but when used the 

 words are to be hyphenated or joined. 

 Specific epithets are: 



(1) Adjectives, which must agree grammatically with the generic name. 



(2) Substantives, in the nominative, in apposition with the generic name. 



(3) Substantives in the genitive. 



A specific epithet may be taken from any s=u:ce whatever and may even 

 be composed arbitrarily. Within the same genus, no two species names 

 may bear one specific epithet. 



NOTE. The term "epithet" as used here implies a single descriptive word 

 or a single descriptive phrase consisting of two or more words. If the author 

 of the name of a species proposed an epithet consisting of two or more 

 words, but without hyphenating or joining, the form is to be corrected, but 

 without prejudice. 



ANNOTATIONS 



Rule 6. The first two sentences of this rule agree with the statement of 

 the Botanical Code. The word "combination" as here used is defined in 

 the Botanical Code: "The name of a taxon below the rank of genus, 

 consisting of the name of a genus combined with one or more epi- 

 thets, is termed a combination." The statement relative to the kinds 

 of specific epithets agrees also with that of the Zoological Code. The 

 latter, however, includes in the rule directives as to the formation of 

 specific epithets indicating dedication to one or more persons (see 

 Rule 27) . 



Discussion of formation of specific epithets from names of per- 

 sons is to be found in Chapter 3, Sec. 7, Rule 27 and its Recom- 

 mendations. 



The nafne of a species. The rule is clear. The name of a species 

 is a binary combination of the name of the genus followed by a 

 specific epithet. The specific epithet is not the 7iaj7ie of the species; 

 it should not be used singly to designate a species. 



The Zoological Code emphasizes this point: 



The scientific designation of animals is uninominal for subgenera 



and all higher groups, binominal for species, and trinominal for 



subspecies. 



There is, however, confusion in biological literature due to lack 

 of agreement among those concerned with taxonomy and nomen- 



