96 SECRETS OF EARTH AND SEA 



is taken to make certain that the name used is applied 

 only to the original species and the original genus to 

 which it was applied, for only so can one be sure that a 

 writer in America or one in Italy or France means the 

 same thing by a name as we do here in England. This 

 is rendered possible and is actually brought about by the 

 preparation of catalogues in which the species are described 

 and figured, especially with regard to obvious points of 

 detail which are constant, and are called " specific 

 characters." These are chosen for special description, not 

 haphazard, but with a view to their being recognized with 

 certainty by those who study other specimens. Another 

 extremely important proceeding in connection with this 

 purpose of uniform naming, which involves vast labour 

 and expense, is the maintenance of great collections of 

 preserved animals and plants by the State in all civilized 

 countries. In these collections either the original specimens 

 to which names were given by recognized describers (called 

 " type-specimens " or " the type ") are preserved, or else 

 specimens which have been compared with those original 

 described specimens, and authoritatively ascertained to be 

 the same as the " type." The maintenance of accuracy 

 and agreement in regard to the names of all the " species " 

 of plants and animals is a big task. It is now carried out 

 by international councils, in which the skilled naturalists 

 of the world are represented. Certain principles have 

 been agreed upon as to the method of determining the 

 priority of one name over others which have been employed 

 for one and the same species by naturalists of different 

 countries and at different times, and a general agreement 

 as to what names are to be used has been arrived at. It 

 is a matter which has involved a great deal of uncertainty 

 and dispute, and still causes difficulty. By the exercise 

 of good sense, and in consequence of the existence of an 

 urgent desire really to understand one another, there is 



