50 THE AMERICAN MONTHLY [February, 



novice, simply, but for us all. that this information is to be con- 

 veyed. 



We believe that the whole system of scientific naming is crude 

 and unworthy of the name of science, but it is not in our power 

 to change it. The idea that any old scientist or upstart student 

 of birds, fishes, reptiles, or plants may promulgate, of his own 

 unsupported opinion, a new species is absurd ; and that he may 

 name his supposedly new species for some man to whom he 

 wishes to toady, for some friend who will return the compliment, 

 for some man, scientific or not scientific, who happened to run 

 upon the specimen, is perhaps worthy of a politician but not of 

 any higher order of intelligence. And then, after this " scien- 

 tist," be he beginner or even gray with years, has dubbed his 

 species s?niihii\ jonesii^ whitneyi^ mniszechii^ ivestivoodii, 

 sc/iicderjiiayri\ viacfarlajici^ kefinicottii^ ajiiphisbcena^ iveiss- 

 flogii^ jaiiiscJiii ^ eiilenstci'jiii^ griindlerii, lind/iciinerii^ hllcJi- 

 cockii\ kiitzir/oii\ beldjeckii^ etc., ad nauseam, we are asked to 

 tell the world that these words are from proper names, when in* 

 truth we think them very improper and we wish that we could 

 discourage such doings in the name of science. It reminds us of 

 a whiskey shop in Washington which fiaunts its sign before the 

 eyes of all in big letters, ''Smithsonian Restaurant," and yet it is 

 so low a den that probably no officer of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion would enter it. It evidently hopes to get respectability from 

 a name, just as some scientists evidently hope to be remembered 

 by having their names attached to species. There are many other 

 people, and among them are most of our contributors, who have 

 no unworthy motives in this matter. They simply follow custom 

 without feeling any aversion thereto. All we have to say of them 

 is that, being all right themselves, they have got into company 

 with others for whom a bad system is upheld. We wish there- 

 fore, while speaking very decidedly against the system, not to 

 make anv personal reflections nor to offend the most sensitive 

 people. We apologize in advance to any one who is tempted to 

 think that he is aimed at herein. We are opposing the plan and 

 explaining why we think we ought not under any circumstances 

 to begin specific names with a capital. And we wish to point 

 out that our boasted science which is to control the world some 

 day has things to reform as well as religion, politics, and business. 



PEOBLEMS. 



4. Blood Stains. — What is the best method of resurrecting 

 blood corpuscles from blood stains and old clots? How best 

 mounted.? H. M. F. 



