48 JIAXUAL OF THE MOLLUSCA. 



KOMENCLATUEE. 



The practice of using two names — generic and specific — foi 

 eacli animal, or plant, originated with Linnosns ; therefore no 

 scientific names date fm^ther back than his works. In the con- 

 struction of these names the Greek and Latin languages are 

 ]5ref erred by the common consent of all countries. 



Synonyms. It often happens that a species is named, or a 

 genus established, by more than one person, at different times, 

 and in ignorance of each other's labours. Such duplicate names 

 are called synonyms ; they have multiplied amazingly of late, 

 and are a stumbling-block and an opprobrium in all branches 

 of natural history.* 



One yery common estuary shell rejoices in the following 

 variety of titles : — 



Scrobicularia piperata {Gmelin sp.). 



Trigonella plana {Da Costa). 



Mactra Listeri {Auct.). 



Mya Hispanica {Chemnitz). 



Venus borealis {Pennant). 



Lutraria compressa {Lamarch). 



Arenaria plana {Megerle). 

 As regards specific names, the earliest ought certainly to be 

 adopted, vrith, however, the following exceptions : — 



1. MS. names ; which are admitted by courtesy. 



2. Names given by writers antecedent to Linnpeus. 



3. Names unaccompanied by a description or figure. 



4. Barbarisms ; or names involving error or absurdity, t 



It is also very desirable that names having a general (Euro- 

 pean) acceptation should not be changed on the discovery of 

 earlier names in obscure publications. 



emblem of eternity— the serpent holding its tail in its mouth. The following diagram 

 is offered as an improved circular system : — 



[Fishes. 1 



Hetero-branchiata. 

 [Zoophytes.] 

 * In Pfeiffer's Monograph of the Helicidce, a family containing seventeen genera, 

 no less than 330 generxc synonyms are enumerated ; to this list Dr. Albers, of Berhn, 

 has added another hundred of his own invention ! 



t This subject was investigated and reported upon by a committee of the Eritinh 

 Association in 1S42. 



