AGAINST KEVERTIBLE NAMES. 187 



where there is little promise of a permanent genus ; and that 

 to preclude a second or a third, or if need be even a seventh 

 application of a cherished name is hard ^yhen the name is a 

 favorite one. But there is no argument at all in this. Upon 

 precisely these grounds have the repetitions been made ; and 

 the successive dropping into synonomy of one' and another of 

 the endeared names has always followed ; and unceasing 

 change, and total insecurity to each such name except where 

 first applied, are among the consequences of 'this liberty of 

 reapplication. There is but one way out of these entangle- 

 ments, and that is, to reserve every name for the genus to 

 which it -was first given, or let it pass from thence only into 

 synonymy ; a place whence it may be recalled if perchance 

 it be needed, without entailing change in the names of from 

 one to four or five other genera. This contingency should 

 always be provided for. Perhaps no genus was ever pro- 

 posed upon characters so unsatisfactory but that some one 

 else, perhaps in the seat of *' authority " may discover charac- 

 ters demanding its reinstatement long after it may have been 

 deposed. This thing is all the while happening ; and change 

 and confusion respecting the names of a hundred genera and 

 the species involved are sure to be the order of the day so 

 long as revertible names are not studiously avoided — every- 

 where ignored. 



Our allies, the zoologists, came to. this point some time 

 since. The sooner systematic botanists agree upon the prin- 

 ciple of "once a synonym, always a synonym," the earlier 

 will botanical nomenclature begin to be found a settled thing. 



For my part, I have long since seen the necessity of a 

 movement in this direction. I have urged it in private cor- 

 respondence with several of my colleagues ; then again, I 

 have shrunk from taking a step which, as I am well aware, 

 will involve the dropping into synonymy of many a familiar 

 and long cherished generic name. But I am now assured 

 others see the need of this reform, and will aid in its 

 prosecution. Nothing along these lines is gained by delay. 

 Simple priority alone is making large, but unavoidable 



