NOMENCLATURE. 99 



Every specific name agrees in gender with the genus to which it belongs, and 

 if an adjective, its termination must show it. If the specific name is a substantive, 

 the termination is not necessarily changed. The rule is not to change the ending 

 of a common noun or mythological name, but to make an adjective, and the name 

 of a person or place, indicate the gender of the genus to which it belongs. 

 The following rules govern the use of these terminations : • 



— alis. This Latin termination, implying resemblance ,Js seldom used,|except 

 in words already compounded  in Greek and Latin ; and when otherwise, it must 

 be annexed to the stem of the word, -as rectilateralis, quadrilateralis. 



— anus. This Latin termination implies resemblance or association, and may 

 be added to proper names, personal or local ; jthough in science its use is almost 

 confined to the former. If the word is capable of taking a classic form, the ter- 

 mination should be simply annexed to the stem as Linnceus, linnceamts; Lesquer- 

 eux (lescuria), lescurianus; in conformity with classic usage; pagus, paganus; Clau- 

 dius, claudianus ; Neapolis, neapolitanus. In other cases, the addition of this termina- 

 tion must follow the same rule as those for ensis, as America, americaniis; Oeinitz, 

 geinitzanus ; Meek, meekanus ; Erie, erianus; Italy (id), italianus. 



— atus. This Latin termination strictly implies the possession of the thing to 

 the name of which it is added. Jit is therefore affixed to the stem of common names 

 only; as, casta, costatus; galea, galeatus ; fornix, fornimius ; sinus, sinuatus ; stria, stria- 

 tals; lobus, lobatus; rostrum, rostratus. It is worthy of remark here that this termina- 

 tion sometimes loses its at, to shorten the word. The practice is not commendable 

 from a linguistic stand-point, but some of the terms so made have become fixed in 

 the nomenclature ; as, Orthis biloba. 



—formis. This Latin termination implies resemblance of shape, and should be 

 confined to Latin words, to the stem of which it is joined by the connecting vowel 

 i; as, laterna, laterniformis ; Ipistillum, pistiUiformis. In forming terms, such as the 

 first given above from Latin words ending in a, the error of using ce as the con- 

 necting vowel should be avoided ; being inconsistent with classic usage, as well as 

 more awkward and lengthy, thus we have from terra, terricola; gemma, gemmifer; 

 squama, squamiger ; tuba, tubiformis ; etc. 



— ensis. This is a Latin termination, expressive of locality, and can not there- 

 fore be correctly employed, except as an affix to the name of a place.] This rule has 

 been traversed in few real, but in many apparent instances. IAnguhx morsensis is an 

 illustration of the former. In accordance with law, this has been changed to L. 

 morsii, being given in honor of Mr. Morse. Zygospira cincinnatiensis, Pupa vermilion- 

 ensis, Cardium napoleonense, Athyris hannibalensis are apparent exceptions ; but these 

 terms are formed from words which, though originally personal or trivial, have now 

 become local names, and consequently no valid objection can be raised against them. 

 In using this termination the following rules have been generally followed : 1st. 

 If the name of the place ends in a consonant, the termination is annexed to the 

 word ; as, Clinton clintonensis. 2d. If the name ends in a or e, these letters are 

 dropped, and the termination then annexed ; as, Canada, canadensis; Minnesota, min- 

 nesotensis ; Iowa, iowensis ; Indiana, indianensis ; Lasalle, lasallensis ; Erie, eriensis. 

 3d. If the name ends in i, o, or u, that vowel is retained ; as, Mississippi, mississippi- 

 ensis ; Missouri, missouriensis ; Chicago, chicagoensis ; Colorado, coloradoensis ; Chouteau, 

 chouteauensis. 4th. If the name ends in y, that letter becomes i upon the addition 



