364? NOMENCLATURE. . 240. 



menclature, yet only a part of that nomenclature, which 

 he applies himself, is systematic, the rest is trivial no- 

 menclature. This mixed nomenclature is a consequence 

 of a mixed system ; and proves that the nomenclature can- 

 not acquire uniformity, unless the system rest upon simple 

 principles. Mineralogy, as hitherto treated, has amply 

 demonstrated this observation. Zoology and Botany prove 

 the reverse. These parts of Natural History have always 

 proceeded according to one and the same principle, and on 

 this account they have long ago possessed the advantage of 

 a systematic nomenclature. 



It appears evidently from the preceding observations, 

 that the systematic nomenclature must be judged of ac- 

 cording to the system to which it refers. If this be found- 

 ed upon relations appertaining to the science, and if its 

 different parts be consistent with each other ; that is to 

 say, if it fulfil the above mentioned demands of Natural 

 History ; the whole business of nomenclature will be to 

 express this system by words, so that it becomes possible 

 from the denomination of a species to infer the connexion in 

 which it stands with others. The nomenclature, moreover, 

 should not be contrary to the spirit of the language ; its 

 expressions should be concise and intelligible, and the de- 

 nominations, if possible, should be expressive of the objects 

 themselves. These are the chief properties of nomencla- 

 ture, upon which its applicability depends. It will thus 

 allow of all those improvements and refinements, or, in 

 general, of all those changes, which are rendered necessary 

 by the continual advancement of our knowledge regarding 

 the productions of the Mineral Kingdom. 



The object of the systematic nomenclature is to promote 

 and facilitate the application of the system to nature, or to 

 the data of observation. For while we attribute certain 

 names or denominations to the natural productions, we ar- 

 range them at the same time under the general ideas of 

 the system ; the system, however, is constructed for the 

 purpose of collecting the variety of nature within its ge- 

 neral ideas, and thus reducing it to a unity, in order to 



