on Generic Names in Natural Hislori/. 349 



IVI. Ciivier, the great inventor of this new nomenclature, and 

 on whose authority I presume the use of it is supposed to be 

 sanctioned, I believe never intended they should be applied 

 in the manner now adopted. The extract which I annex from 

 the Preface to the first edition o^ Ina Regne Animal, and which 

 he has repeated in that lately published, seems to me conclu- 

 sive on this point. 



The names of the grand genera are alone on his authority 

 to be used in speaking of the species, whilst those of the sub- 

 genera or sections are to be applied solely in the exhibition of 

 any systematic arrangement of the genera. 



In making these observations, jjray let it be understood that 

 I am not advocating the preservation of any genus of animals, 

 which evidently requires the separation of individuals united 

 with it from want of sufficient knowledge of the species by the 

 original framers of the genus. It is against the sub-division 

 only of those genera which are acknowledged by naturalists 

 to be perfect, but which have been formed into sections with 

 particular objects in view by M. Cuvier and others. 



As the specific names of all the individuals belonging to the 

 sub-genera of any one grand genus in the higher orders of the 

 animal kingdom are different, what but confusion can result 

 from substituting as generic appellations the various sub- 

 generic names instead of that of the grand genus which in- 

 cludes the whole? 



M. DeCandolle's use and adoption of sub-genera in the 

 vegetable kingdom seem entirely to accord with the rule laid 

 down by M. Cuvier ; for although he has in numerous in- 

 stances given names to his sections, neither he nor his cotem- 

 })oraries have ever attempted to designate the species by any 

 of the inferior appellations : the grand generic names are in- 

 variably used. I am, Gentlemen, yours, &c. 



London, Oct. 23, Ib-'f). J. S. 



Extract from the Preface to the First Edition of Cuvier'' s 

 " Kegne Animal." 

 " II m'a fallu nialheureusement introduire beaucoup de noms 

 nouveaux, fjuoicjue j'aie mis une grande attention a conserver 

 ceux de mes devanciers ; niais les nombreux sous-genres que 

 j'ai etablis exigeaient ces denominations; car dans dcs choses 

 si varices, la memoire ne se contente j)as d'indications nu- 

 nieri(|ues. Je les ai choisies, soit de maniore a indiquer 

 quel(|uc caractore, soit duns les denominations usuelles (jue j'ai 

 lalinisi'es, soit enfin, a I'excniplo dc LimiaMis, parnii les noms 

 de la mvthologic, qui sont in general .igreablcs a I'orcille, et 

 que Ton Chit loin d'avoir epuiscs. 



"Jc 



