168 AMERICAN CODE OF BoTaNIcCAL NOMENCLATURE 
controverting a cardinal principle ; and no method is provided for 
fixing the types of the genera which it is proposed to maintain or 
reject. 
The treatment of homonyms was not given the importance at 
Vienna that this Commission believes necessary, although we are 
now of the opinion that the canons of the Philadelphia code relat- 
ing to homonyms were framed in a somewhat more exclusive 
manner than is desirable, and we recommend some amendments 
to these canons. 
It was unanimously agreed at Vienna to maintain the oldest 
specific name when a species is transferred from one genus to 
another, or the oldest subspecific or varietal name when a sub- 
species or variety is transferred from one species to another ; but, 
when the rank is changed from species to subspecies or variety, or 
vice versa, the name need not be maintained, although it is desir- 
able that it should be. To meet this agreement the Philadelphia 
code requires modifications, as shown by the amendments here- 
with recommended 
By aclose vote, the Vienna Congress called for all descrip- 
tions of new species or genera, published after January 1, 1908, to 
be accompanied by a diagnosis in the Latin language. This re- 
quirement reaches the height of arbitrary action, and we do not 
regard the subject as one over which any botanical congress has 
jurisdiction. The progressive disuse of Latin, its elimination from 
the curricula of scientific schools, and the general teaching of two 
or more modern languages, lead us to regard this action as unnec- 
essary and unwise. 
We recommend that the Code adopted at Philadelphia be 
maintained, as amended, as ene 
J. C. ARTHUR. ARTHUR HOLLICK. 
Joun HENDLEY BARNHART. MarsHati A. Howe. 
-N. L.-Britton. F. H. KNow ron. 
FREDERIC E, CLEMENTs. GEORGE T. Moore. 
OQ. F: Coox. H. H. Russy. 
FREDERICK V. COVILLE. C. L. SHEAR. 
F. S. EARLE. Lucien M. UNDERWOOD. 
ALEXANDER W, oe Davip WHITE. 
Tracy E. Hazen. WixuiAM F, Wicurt. 
Members and Alternates of the Nomenclature Commission of the 
Botanical Club of the American Association for the Advancement of 
Science, 
