LIVING THINGS 219 



different species in the rose genus (Rosa), but they do not 

 differ enough to be placed in different genera. When we ex- 

 amine the strawberry (Fragaria), the blackberry (Rubus), the 

 bridal wreath (Spiraea), and a large number of others, we find 

 the flowers are all of the typical rose pattern, but they differ 

 enough to make it necessary to place them in different genera. 

 We group all these genera in the rose family (Rosacece), and 

 this great family, with several other related ones forms the 

 rose order (Resales). A similar grouping is found in animals. 

 Many such groups in both the animal and plant worlds are 

 recognized almost at sight as cats, dogs, deer, whales, mice, 

 bats, bees, asters, pines, lilies, grapes, and the like. 



186. Scientific Names. Each species of animal or plant 

 has its own name consisting of two words similar in significance 

 to our own names. One of these words is the individual or 

 specific name, such as our so-called " given " or Christian name; 

 the other is the group name which it shares with all the indi- 

 viduals in the genus, just as we share our family name with 

 brothers and sisters. In reference lists, our family or generic 

 names are always written first, and the same is true of plants 

 and animals. When we mention these latter, however, we 

 always speak the generic name first. Thus in Trifolium repens, 

 the name of the white clover, Trifolium is the generic name 

 and repens the specific one. The red clover is Trifolium 

 pratense, the yellow clover, Trifolium agrarium, and so on. 

 In addition to these, most species have one or more common 

 or vernacular names. The question is often asked why one 

 should use the scientific names when the common names are 

 usually so much easier to pronounce, and the answer is that 

 since the same species of plants and animals are often found 

 in different countries, great confusion would ensue if the 

 natives of each country used only the name current for it in 

 his own tongue. The scientific names, derived mostly from 

 the ancient Latin and Greek, are fixed in their meanings, and 



