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the several authors I have quoted, it becomes evident that we 
shall never obtain complete uniformity and permanence of 
nomenclature, as long as each writer of a monograph or compiler 
of a catalogue thinks himself at liberty to use it asa medium 
for expressing his own views on the subject. To enact laws is of 
little use if we have no judges to interpret them. I have long been 
of opinion that we require a tribunal to decide authoritively what 
changes of nomenclature shall be allowed; and though I have 
often been told this is impracticable, I cannot yet see the 
impracticability. As an example of what I mean, I would propose 
that the Natural-History Societies of each of the great nations of 
Europe and America should appoint one or more well-qualified 
naturalists to form a Judicial Committee of Nomenclature, all 
these societies, of course, agreeing to abide by the decisions of such 
committee. It might meet once a year, or even less frequently 
(as much business might be done by means of a Secretary), when 
any one could lay before it cases of non-accordant or erroneous 
nomenclature, with reasons and authorities for proposed changes. 
Its decisions, once given, would be adopted in the publications of 
all the societies, and this would soon lead to their universal adoption. 
Authors working at monographs or catalogues would naturally 
submit to it all proposed alterations of existing nomenclature, 
and would hardly run the risk of injuring the sale of their 
books by acting in opposition to the judgments given. All cases 
in which an important principle was involved should be decided 
only after submitting it to every member of the committee. The 
decisions of the committee need not be absolutely final, because 
new evidence might turn up, or the application of a rule might 
involve consequences not foreseen; but the confusion caused by 
the reversal of a decision would be carefully considered, and such 
reversals should not be made, except by a larger absolute majority 
of the committee than that which gave the previous decision. 
Such a committee would, of course, lay down certain principles 
and rules for its own guidance, calculated to secure a uniform and 
permanent scientific nomenclature of natural objects ; and with the 
great facilities for communications that now exist, I cannot believe 
that there would be any great difficulty in its practical working ; 
still less can I believe that its decisions would not be respected, 
and that it would not help us to obtain, much earlier than we 
otherwise should do, a uniform and permanent nomenclature. 
