THE NOMENCLATURE OF POTAMOGETONS. 297 



simple reason that it stands first on the page in Adanson's 

 ' Families.' That is priority, I am sure." 



This being so, and supposing that this new definition of priority 

 of publication is accepted, let us see where it will lead us. 



In the first edition of his ' Genera,' Linnaeus establishes Primus 

 and Amygdalus. The latter is, by Bentham and Hooker and by 

 most other recent systematists, united with the former. But a 

 reference to the ' Genera ' will show that, on Brittonian principles, 

 it is Amygdalus, not Primus, that must be retained; for the former 

 is numbered 519 while the latter is numbered 520, and stands, not 

 "first on the page," but on the page preceding! "This," I 

 imagine Dr. Britton will say, " is priority, I am sure. The fact 

 that everybody, from Linnaeus himself downwards, has named some 

 species under Prunus has, to me, nothing to do with the case. 

 Henceforward Amygdalus, and not Prunus, must have precedence : 

 and our species of Prunus shall run 



Amygdalus Padus (Linn.) Britton. 

 A. viryiniana (Linn.) Britton. 

 and the like. This is the ' rational system ' of nomenclature, 

 which I have providentially been raised up to expound." 



Joking apart, it seems to me clear that, if Dr. Britton's " argu- 

 ments " for the suppression of Buda for Tissa are to prevail, it is 

 impossible to avoid applying them in the numerous cases similar 

 to that which I have cited from Linnaeus. It is for botanists to 

 decide how far they will go in countenancing what I must again 

 call " the eccentricities of the neo- American school of nomenclature," 

 and also whether this definition or Dr. Britton's alternative one of 

 " a rational system " best fits the case. The material for judgment 

 is now before them, and I do not propose to return to the subject. 



THE NOMENCLATIVE OF POTAMOGETONS. 



By Arthur Bennett, F.L.S. 



From time to time I hope to call attention to the names, 

 synonymy, &c, of some of the species of this genus, mainly, I must 

 confess, with a view to gain information, especially as to authentic 

 or type specimens, wherever such may be in existence. I shall bo 

 greatly obliged for any corrections, should these be necessary. 



" Potamogeton intricatus Nolte." — Is it known where Nolte 

 described this (if he did so)'? Herr v. Uechtritz, on a label 

 accompanying specimens of " P. Berchtohiii Fieber," has written 

 "an intricatus Nolte?" No such a name is found among Nolte's 

 specimens at the British Museum Herbarium ; has any one any 

 knowledge of it ? 



P. ftriRiLLUs Tuckerman in Sill. Journal, 2nd ser. vi. 228 

 (1848). — This is /'. poreatwn Muhlenberg, Cat. Plant. Am. Sept. 

 No. 3, 181:3. In Sir J. E. Smith's herbarium there is a specimen 



