vi PREFACE 



in each case, indicated first; the less used but ac- 

 ceptable alternatives are placed afterwards. 



It should ever be remembered that while there 

 are formal rules of pronunciation they have not 

 always been observed. Long usage has in certain 

 cases established other ways of sounding some let- 

 ters, especially vowels, and of placing accents. It 

 is also well to keep in mind that words, especially 

 derived ones, may be pronounced differently by 

 phonetic experts and by reputable biologists resid- 

 ing in different countries. The individual prefer- 

 ences are indeed many. 



The scientific names of both plants and animals 

 are generally cast in Latin form even though they 

 may be compounded from Greek or other stems. 

 It has been agreed that they should, for the most 

 part, be pronounced in conformity to Latin rules 

 and practice. Accordingly I have given in the in- 

 troduction the more important rules governing the 

 syllabification and accentuation of Latin words. 

 A table showing the needed diacritical marks and 

 the sounds of the letters which they govern has 

 been located for ready reference inside both the 

 front and back covers of the book. To add interest 

 and to help the student in learning, a number of 

 illustrations have been placed throughout the text. 

 These call attention to often mispronounced words. 



Those who use this Guide are urged to read 

 carefully the Introduction and to make an earnest 

 effort to master the brief but highly important 

 material found there. They may then proceed to 



