92 



NOMENCLA TURE. 



Pterum. 



Phyllirrhoa, not Phyllirhoe. 

 Glossus. 

 Pterum. 



Hybolithus, not Hibolites. 

 Phorus. 

 Cochlias. 

 Psammus. 



Limnsea, not Limnea. 

 Glaucus. 



Exotenobranchia. 

 Chilostoma, not Cheilostoma. 

 Eurus. 

 , Dioeca, not Dioica. 

 Ephippium, not Ephippion. 

 Euomphalus, not Euomphalos. 

 Luteriura, not Lotorium. 

 Angaria. 



Auchistoma, not Augistoma. 

 Ancistrodon, not Agkistrodon. 

 Rhea. 

 Hermam, not Ermaea. 



It follows therefore, that Buthotrephis must, according to the laws of etymology, 

 be spelt Bythotrephis ; Xenophasia, instead of Zenophasia; Poeocephala, instead of Poio- 

 eephala. In Latinizing modern words where the rules of classic usage do not apply, 

 the etymology must be preserved, even though it includes letters and combinations 

 unknown in Latin; thus, uooduardi, instead of vudvardi; knighti, instead of cnichti; 

 bullocki, instead of bullocci; eechscholizi, instead of molzi; nebraekensis, instead of 

 nebrascevm. But words of barbarous origin should be rendered as classical in 

 appearance as is consistent with the preservation of their original sound; as, tocous, 

 instead of tockvs; ansure, instead of anmree; argunda, instead of argoondat. 



In Latinizing proper names and converting them into specific ones, they assume 

 a distinctive character, which they did not before possess. The rule is to use 

 the termination us, genitive i, when the name ends with a consonant ; as, Miller, 

 milleri. But when it ends in a vowel, ivs, genitive ii; as, Moore, moorii. This rule 

 is often violated, but it would be much better strictly to adhere to it. 



PRIORITY. 



It is of the highest importance that we retain the first defined and illustrated 

 names of genera and species. The British Association said : 



" It being admitted on all hands that words are only the conventional signs of 

 ideas, it is evident that language can only attain its end effectually by being per- 

 manently established and generally recognized. This consideration ought, it would 

 seem, to have checked those who are continually attempting to subvert the established 

 language of Zoology, by substituting terms of their own coinage. But, forgetting 

 the true value of language, they persist in confounding the name of a species or 



