PREFACE. xvii 



more appropriate than the English ; and it 

 would perhaps be better sometimes to 

 Anglicise the word than to translate it. 



This is indeed the case with all technical 

 language : it is extremely difficult to retain 

 the precision of Linnaean nomenclature, in 

 rendering it into any other language. It 

 were, therefore, much to be wished, that, 

 instead of endeavouring to erase from their 

 translations all expressions which do not 

 obtain in common conversation, naturalists 

 should rather, by general agreement, adopt 

 a style of phraseology as nearly allied as 

 possible to the Latin, — concise, and appro- 

 priated solely to the use of systematic 

 writers. This would tend to diminish, and 

 not to increase, the difficulties which attend 

 the engaging study of natural history in all 



