72 ERYTHEA, 
as quite removes all doubt as to its merits as a strong 
geographical variety. The naming of this is attributed to 
Baron von Mueller; but Dr. Huth does not tell us whether | 
or not it is now first published. From the Ural Mountains 
there is recognized a variety perpusillus characterized as 
much more slender than the true minimus, with scapes much 
more elongated as compared with the leaves. As far as the 
description goes, therefore, this might be near our West 
American var. filiformis. 
It is a pity that, in the Middle or Southern Atlantic states 
of our continent Rafinesques M. Shortii is not rediscovered. 
As a species it was early rejected, but whether with reason, 
or arbitrarily and because at a certain period it was the 
fashion to ignore Rafinesque, probably no one knows. But 
we remark that Dr. Huth not only gives it recognition as a 
var. Shortii of M. minimus, but adduces for it a couple of 
stations in northern parts of the Old World, in addition to 
the American localities of long ago. 
In dealing with the second species of Myosurus that was 
made known, our monographer uses a kind of freedom which 
is not in our day commonly allowed. Between two names, 
M. apetalus, which has priority, and M. aristatus, which is 
more appropriate, he chooses the latter. We do not know 
whether, in case there had not been a second and more suitable 
name for the species, the author would have coined a new 
one. But it seems to us that the man who is not ready to 
take the stand of making a new and good name, when the old 
one is bad, can not, in reason, allow himself the license of 
adopting the better but later one of some one else. It is 
perhaps true that there is less injustice in rejecting a prior 
name that is bad than one that is good; because it may be 
said, and with reason, that no man has a right to impose on 
a species an unfit name. But the consequences to the 
stability of nomenclature are alike in the two instances. If 
names are not to stand, whether apt or inept, according to 
strict priority, changes will be perpetual. And if changes 
were to be admitted on the score of improvement, a fine 
