THE CODE OF NOMENCLATURE 



AND 



CHECK-LIST OF NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS, 



i. 



INTRODUCTION. 



IN- beginning its work the Committee found it necessary to 

 examine particularly those rules, precedents, and practices 

 of nomenclature respecting which leading authorities differ, it 

 becoming immediately obvious that no substantial and satis- 

 factory progress in the preparation of a List of North Ameri- 

 can Birds could be made until various disputed points should 

 be settled. This necessity led to the discussion of the general 

 principles of zoological nomenclature, in their special applica- 

 tion to the subject in hand ; and ultimately resulted in the for- 

 mation of a Code of Rules for the guidance of the Committee in 

 fixing the name of every North American bird. These rules 

 were considered in their bearing upon Zoology at large, as well 

 as upon Ornithology alone ; it being obvious that sound prin- 

 ciples of nomenclature should be susceptible of general applica- 

 tion. Furthermore, since in the nature of the case there can 

 be no personal obligation, and no court of appeal with power to 

 enforce its decision, canons of nomenclature should derive their 

 weight wholly from their merit, and should acquire the force of 

 law only by the common consent of zoologists. Since nomen- 

 clature is a means, not an end, of science, the merit of a code 

 of rules for naming objects rests upon its utility, its availability, 



