PREFACE. XIH 



The Latin terms of colour are in general 

 more appropriate than the Enghsh ; and 

 it would perhaps be better sometimes to 

 AngHcise 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 wri- 

 ters. This would tend to diminish, and 

 not to increase, the difficulties which at- 



