308 Coleopterological Notices. 



ending in is. In fact, in the present state of the science, it is impossible to 

 convey any usefully discriminating meaning by a generic word, for it is evident 

 that such combinations as Platysoma, Megacephalus, Brachycerus and hundreds 

 of others, could each be applied with equal force of meaning to a great number 

 of widely diverse genera. 



The only course left, therefore, is to consider the generic name as a simple 

 harmonious combination of letters, having a Latin form, constructed without 

 absolutely essential reference to rigidly correct orthography in the language 

 from which it may have been derived, whether Greek, Latin, or aboriginal 

 American, and subject to constant rules of gender which shall be independent 

 of linguistic caprice. The word may or may not have a meaning in the original 

 language from which it is taken, although in any event, the meaning is of 

 but little material importance. In regard to gender some such rule as the 

 following might be suggested : — 



Masculine. — All words ending in as, es, os, ws, r or o. 



Feminise. — All words ending in a, is or s preceded by a consonant, includ- 

 ing y, and, in addition, words ending in e or x. 



Nedter. — All words ending in m or n. 



An attempt at uniformity involving a suppression of the rules of orthogra- 

 phy, and made in a spirit similar to that which has prompted the above 

 remarks, has recently come into quite general use — I allude to the growing 

 custom of writing all specific names, whether proper or common, with a small 

 initial letter. All such rules as this, which have for their object the attain- 

 ment of simplicity and uniformity in scientific nomenclature, are undoubtedly 

 very desirable. 



In conclusion I cannot forbear alluding to the unspeakable confusion, into 

 which the gratuitous meddling of mere linguistic purists, has thrown a great 

 deal of what should be rigid and unchangeable symbolization. If we can by 

 any means avoid the unnecessary alteration of original spelling of generic 

 words in the future, it is all that can be hoped for. 



COLYDIID^E. 



The Colydiidse comprise an extremely heterogeneous assemblage 

 of species, in treating which we must either greatly amplify and 

 generalize our conception of the value of generic characters as 

 derived from experience in the order at large, or must create a 

 relatively great number of genera each very limited in extent. 

 There can be but little question of the propriety of the latter course, 

 if we wish to make the value of generic characters — somewhat 

 indefinite at best — as nearly uniform as possible throughout the 

 order, although it necessitates at the same time a greater complexity 

 of nomenclature. A similar condition is of constant recurrence 

 throughout the order. In the Carabidte it occurs anions* the 



