84 Dr. E. Lonnbevg on the Linnean 



said to be twelve in number. But even this publication is 

 earlier than the introduction of binomenclature, and although 

 two names are practically used already in this work, they 

 are not, according to the prevalent rules, so well sanctioned 

 as those in the tenth edition and later. For this reason 

 it does not seem advisable to adopt, with Thorell, tlie 

 name '^q/5'tc«n2<s " and use that for an African species of 

 scorpion, especially when one has not more guidance for the 

 fixation of the name than the words " Habitat in Africa " and 

 the statement concerning the number of comb-teeth — " pec- 

 tinibus duodecim dentatis " — which may even more easily be 

 referred to other species than to tlie common African one. 

 Besides, it must be well observed tliat the notes written by 

 Linnseus concerning the habitats of tlie animals described are 

 unfortunately very often erroneous. For this many proofs 

 could be given. Why the errors in that respect are so nume- 

 rous is easy to understand if we take into consideration how 

 the collections of those days were made and other circum- 

 stances. Firstly, the geographical origin of the specimens 

 seemed to be of little or no importance, because zoogeography 

 was not as yet included among the branches of scientific 

 natural history. Secondly, the specimens in the museums 

 of the time before Linnajus were not, as a rule, brought 

 together by scientifically educated persons who made journeys 

 in foreign countries for the purpose of studying the fauna and 

 flora as well as of making collections of sj)ecimcns. The 

 " museums " of those days, which belonged to princes and 

 other great and wealthy people, were rather store-rooms for 

 curiosities ('' cabinets de curiositd ") where all kinds of strange 

 things were gathered together, not for scientific use or the 

 advancement of knowledge, but as a kind of luxury. Tlie 

 specimens themselves were obtained from seamen or tra- 

 velling merchants who brought home peculiar objects from 

 the countries they had visited and sold or presented them to 

 their patrons. The information concerning the geographical 

 origin was based upon hearsay, and was, naturally enough, 

 untrustworthy. Under such circumstances it is evident 

 that the statements or notes on the habitats given by Linna3us 

 must be \QYy uncertain, especially when he described a 

 collection which was already brought together from all parts 

 of the world, such as * ]\Ius. Ad. Frid. Keg.' or ' Mus. Ludov. 

 Ulr. llcgina\' It was altogether diflercnt when the objects to 

 be described were brought home by some of the pupils of 

 Liiuio^us, who had visited certain countries for zoological 

 and botanical purposes. From this we can judge that if 

 '* Liuuaius " has given an animal the name "a/cr" or 



