105 



important extension of the present generallv-accepted view on 

 pre-occiipation, and I should Uke just to touch on the somewhat 

 obvious fact that no name should be considered available which 

 offends against seemliness or common sense. This wording 

 appears to me preferable to that of the Merton ccjde, as it in- 

 cludes in one term all names that might be oñensive (to quote 

 that admirable document) " politically, morall}', or by their 

 irreverence," and from other possible causes as well. The other 

 case in which I hold that no name ought to be considered av^ail- 

 able, is one which will certainly bring me under the lash of those 

 who favour " Priority at any cost," but it tells so directl\- in 

 securing fixit\' of nomenclature that I am not without a hope 

 that this Congress may as a whole look favourabh' on the pro- 

 posal. The fact that it does so tend to ñxit}- is indeed so 

 obvious that I shall do little more than propound the suggestion, 

 dividing it for the sake of clearness into two j)arts. I suggest, 

 then : 



(i) That no specific or sub-specific name discovered in an 

 earlier publication be held available, if it displace one which has 

 been in universal and unchallenged use for twent\'-five years at 

 the time of such discovery ; and 



(2) That a generic name with the same prescription shall 

 not be held available in a difierent, but only in its recognised 

 sense, or in a restricted or extended use of the same. 



As an instance, Papilio shall not be available for antiopa, 

 notwithstanding the discover}' of Schrank's action, since it had 

 at the time of this discover}' a very long prescriptive application 

 to a group with which antiopa is not congeneric. 



If twenty-five years be considered too short a period, it 

 might perhaps be extended, though it is a little difficult to see 

 what would be gained either in principle or practice bv such an 

 extension even to fift\' \'ears. If fixit\' of nomenclature is ever 

 to be arrived at, even approximate!}', some such regulation will 

 sooner or later have to be made. The argument with regard 

 to the sacrifice of truth has ahead}- been dealt with, and I am 

 not aware that any other has ever been brought forward. Kvi-n 

 the stoutest supporters of " Priority without exception " will 

 hardly contend that the non possumns attitude can be regarded 

 as coming under that head. 

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