EXTRACTS FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC, 167 



Mr. Dana then read his report on a new and philosophical sys- 

 em of nomenclature, the principle features of which are as fol- 

 ows : 



I The name originally given to a group or species by its founder 

 i;hould be retained to the exclusion of all subsequent synonyms; 

 he system having originated with Linnteus, this law is not to ex- 

 end to the writings of antecedent authors. 



When several genera are united in one the name of the earliest, 

 f otherwise unobjectionable, should be selected as the name of the 

 vhole group. 



When a genus is subdivided, the original generic name should 

 lot be canceled, but retained for that portion of it which was con- 

 itlcred typical by the author. 



When a generic name has a synonym exactly equivalent with it 

 n its original application in making a subdivision of the genus, 

 V his synonym should not be adopted as the name of either of the 

 t iiew genera formed; except when its type belongs to a ditferent 

 ; lection of the genus from that of the other name, and both sec- 

 ions are elevated to genera. 



A name of a species already in use for another species of the 

 ame genus should be changed; also a generic name in Zoology 

 itefore employed for a genus in the same kingdom. 



When the name of a species is afterwards made the name of a 

 .( luis to include that species, a new specific name should be given. 



In writing systematic names the rules of Latin orthography 

 iiould be adhered to, except in words derived from proper names, 

 II which only the termination should be latinized. 



The best names are those derived from the Greek or Latin lan- 

 ;uages; the former being preferable for generic names and the lat- 

 er for specific. 



Mr. B. Silliman, Jr. read a paper by Lieut. Johnson, on the 



ieology in the neighborhood of Fort Ouchita; 70 miles south of 



he fort he found the same limestone that is found to the north 



f it, but altered by action of heat with nodules of iron. At Ft, 



Vayne, on Red river, he found Lignite or Bovey coal, and alum 



tposit, with springs impregnated with alum; and he believes that 



lie whole of that region was once a laro'e lake risino; over all the 



.ills in the neighborhood, and in which the mastadon, &c. used to 



I fambol and luxuriate. Still farther on he found granite rocks, 



)" jimilar to that found ten miles south of Fort Ouchita; also fifteen 



jiiles north and west of the fort; also, limestone changed by 



ieat, containing iron; west of this the granite bears east and 



f vest; then the limestone bears south 10 degrees east; then the 



trata become warped and stand east and west. And in many 



laces he found where bitumen had just ceased to flow; and one 



lace w^here it was still flowins:. The extensive settlement of 



