348 Dr. P. L. Sclatcr on attachmt/ 



used a short diagnosis for the designation of the s])ccies. 

 Linnseus converted the diagnosis into a single specific name, 

 and estabhshed the system, now universally adopted, that 

 animals and plants should have two scientific names and 

 two names only — one that of the genus and the other that of 

 the species. 



The immediate followers of Linnseus adhered pretty closely 

 to his rule, but in course of time, as the multitude of names 

 increased, the custom arose of adding the name of the author 

 to the generic and specific names. So far has this custom 

 been carried by many writers that even the most familiar 

 names, such as "Corvus corax " and " Turdus musictis," are not 

 considered to be complete unless the name of the authority 

 be placed after them. Thus, if this custom be invariably 

 followed, we should have in fact a trinomial system of 

 nomenclature instead of the simple binomial system o£ 

 Linnseus. 



When the number of genera began to be augmented and 

 the names of animals were often transferred from one genus 

 to another, it became a question whether the authority to 

 be attaclied to the generic and specific names should be the 

 name of the writer who first gave the species its specific name 

 or the name of the writer who first placed the species in the 

 proper genus and made a correct combination of the generic 

 and specific names. After some discussion it was generally 

 agreed that the name appended to the genus and species 

 should be that of the writer who first described the species, 

 but that if a subsequent writer transferred the species into 

 a different genus, the first writer's name should be enclosed 

 in brackets. Thus the name of the Song-Thrush still remains 

 " Turdus musicus," but that of the Rock- Thrush, '* Turdus 

 cyanus" of Linnaeus, on being transferred into the genus 

 Monticola, became Monticola cyanus (Linn.), not Monticola 

 cyanus Boie. 



The question I now Avish to consider is whether it is 

 necessary or advisable to continue this practice of abrays 

 adding the name of the author who first described the species 

 to the generic and specific names, and thus, as I have said. 



