INTRODUCTION. 79 
distinguished leaders of science is very feeble, the 
wholesome restraints of zoological nomenclature have 
been broken clown, and naturalists have created rules 
for themselves. A multitude of barbarous terms, de- 
rived from the names of persons and places, have been 
introduced, outraging in their composition both pro- 
priety and good taste, inconsistent with the object pro- 
posed by the establishment of specific names, and sub- 
versive of the best interests of science. Among the 
names selected for this distinction are those of some 
of our most able zoologists, who are worthy of this or 
of any other honor, but there are many more of col- 
lectors and amateurs, and of persons totally uncon- 
nected with any branch of zoology, who have no claims, 
except that of the partiality of friends, to be placed 
in such association. The temple has even been dese- 
crated by the money-changers, and the names of shell- 
dealers and petty hucksters have been admitted to the 
same honors as those of Wilson and of Say. The 
indiscriminate use of these names defeats the intentions 
of those who apply them. An honor which is so com- 
mon as to be borne by every one, ceases to be an honor, 
and persons of general celebrity as naturalists, can- 
not feel themselves flattered by being classed in the 
same rank with the numerous unknown persons with 
whom they are thus associated. Besides, to give the 
intended compliment any value, the reader must be told 
to whom the author intends to offer it ; and thus spe- 
cific descriptions, besides comprising the characters 
