28 Nomenclature. [,sf"}uly 



competitive names otherwise tenable, given by different authors of 

 the same actual date so far as ascertainable, the one standing on the 

 earlier page in its publication must be chosen. [Note.] The sole end 

 of laws of nomenclature is that of fixity, and this is to be ensured only 

 by the elimination among names once printed, of all element of choice 

 by later authors. Even among twins, the laws of primogeniture 

 recognizes one as first born. So with names on the same page. 



" Canon VII. [Compare A.O.U. XVIII.] In case of competitive 

 generic names otherwise tenable, published simultaneously in the same 

 work, preference shall be given to the one standing first in the work. 

 Of competitive generic names of the same actual or ostensible date (no 

 exact date being ascertainable) given by different authors, that one 

 is to be taken which is proposed on the earlier page of the volume in 

 which it appears. When the same generic name is given to two distinct 

 genera of animals at the same date (as far as ascertainable), the name 

 appearing on the earlier page shall be deemed to have precedence. 



Canon X. differs widely from the A.O.U. rulings. Compare with 

 XXI., XXIII. " The type of a genus can be indicated by the original 

 author only. This may be done by direct statement that a certain 

 species is a type species, the leading species, the ' chef de file,' or by 

 other phraseology conveying the same idea ; it may be indicated by 

 the choice of a Linnaean or other specific name as the name of a genus, 

 or by some statement which shall clearly indicate an idea in the author's 

 mind corresponding in fact, if not in name, to the modern conception 

 of the type of a genus. The type of a Linnaean genus must be, in the 

 phraseology attributed to Linnaeus, ' the best known European or 

 officinal species,' included by that author within that genus. 



" In every case, the determination of the type of a genus shall rest 

 on evidence offered by the original author, and shall be in no wise 

 affected by restrictions or modifications of the genus in question intro- 

 duced by subsequent authors, nor shall the views or the dates of 

 subsequent authors be considered as affecting the assignment of the 

 type of a genus. [Note.] It is believed that the principle that a 

 generic name must be fixed by its original author is one of vital im- 

 portance in nomenclature. All processes of fixing types by elimination, 

 or by any other means resting on subsequent literature, lead only to 

 confusion and to the frittering of time on irrelevant questions. The 

 method of elimination cannot be so defined as to lead to constant 

 results in different hands. In general it is much more difficult to 

 know to what types subsequent authors have restricted any name than 

 to know what the original author would have chosen as his type. Most 

 early writers who have dealt with Linnaean species have consciously 

 or unconsciously encroached on the Linnaean groups rather than made 

 definite restrictions in the meaning of the generic names. 



" Canon XL [Compare with A.O.U. XXIV.] In case a genus 

 recpiiring subdivision or modification contains as originally formed 

 more than one species, and the author of the genus does not in any 

 way clearly indicate its type, the first species named in the text by 

 the author as certainly belonging to this genus shall be considered as 

 its type. [Note.] It can never be unjust to an author to regard his 

 first named species as his type, and it can never lead to confusion to 

 let the genus stand or fall with this first species. The same remark 

 applies to composite species. 



" Canon XVII. [Second paragraph.] As a name is a word without 

 necessary meaning, and as names are identified by their orthography. 



