70 Occasional Notes. 



If lists are to be made, and contiimally to be enlarged, of 

 names which are never more to be changed, it means that 

 one can never be certain if a name which is correct according 

 to priority will not be changed next year. 



Moreover : " These lists shall contain chiefly those generic 

 names which became current before 1900 and which have 

 principally been used in teaching." In other words they are 

 to be made in order to spare temporary inconveniences ! Is 

 that a reason for the departure from a universally accepted, 

 correct, and logical principle ? What are names which have 

 become current before 1900 ? Are they the same in different 

 countries and in different educational manuals ? 



It is also proposed that other names besides those in common 

 use before 1900 are to be put on the list of proscribed names, 

 for the resolution says, " shall contain cliiefiii those generic 

 names," etc. What the other names will be, we arc not 

 informed. Therefore, an end of the " list" is not in sight ; 

 and should these proposals be accepted, stability will be 

 henceforth problematical, and confusion will reign as it never 

 did before. 



These proposals have been made principally by university- 

 professors ; but the regulation of nomenclature is most im- 

 portant for systematists and specialists, and they must have 

 the first voice in these matters : if they are willing to put up 

 with temporary inconvenience, their efforts should be doubly 

 considered and encouraged. If this is not done they will be 

 forced to disregard the rulinos of those who do not wish to 

 accept the names which are logically correct, according to 

 priority. 



An index of nomenclatorially-forbidden books is also to 

 be made. How can such a proposal be acce])ted without 

 knowledge of tlie kind of books which are to be disregarded? 

 The examples given do not explain the nature of such v/orks. 

 Therefore these proposals open the door to arbitrary and 

 autocratic action. 



Last but not least. Section 4. This paragraph must cast 

 doubt on the seriousness of the proposals. "Encyclopedias, 

 catalogues, pojuilar books on travel,^' etc. are to be dis- 



