1 14 VENERID^E. 



curtus for Solenicurtus. The first may signify a vein of the 

 rock, and the second some connection with the sole of the 

 shoe, or with the Sun, from Sol, soils ; but there can be no 

 mistake in the correct readings Venerirupis and Solenicurtus, 

 which emphatically declare, the one, to be a rock Venus, and 

 the other, allied to the animal of the Solenes. It may per- 

 haps be said, that these are very unnecessary objections ; every 

 one knows what is meant. But that is not a sound reason for 

 writing incorrectly, when it is as easy, without being too 

 fastidious, to have some regard to a just etymology. We may 

 add, that if Venerupis is correct, to be consistent, it would be 

 necessary for the family of the Veneridae to be written Venidae. 

 It is the continual neglect of these apparent minutiae that has 

 brought our nomenclature to its present degraded condition. 

 We think, if these points are properly considered, they will be 

 admitted to be essential. These observations are not strictly 

 my own ; I may say, non meus He sermo ; but I have for 

 them the high authority of a valued friend, now no more, 

 Dr. Goodall, the late Provost of Eton, whose dicta on philo- 

 logy few will dispute, and with whom I have had frequent 

 conversations on the corrupt position of the nomenclature of 

 all the branches of natural history. That learned gentleman, 

 from his profound classical ear, was particularly sensitive on 

 these points and mispronunciations. I well recollect, when 

 chatting together at my house, I pronounced the genus Cythe- 

 rea with the accent on the second syllable, when with offended 

 ear he thundered forth 



Parce metii, Cytherea ; manent immota tuorum. 

 And yet, with those who ought to know better, we continually 

 hear the word spoken with the accent on the second syllable, 

 instead of the penultimate. I am aware, when the island 

 Cythera is in question, the accent is long on the second 

 syllable 



alta Cythera, 



but never in Cytherea. The reproof I received has made a 

 permanent impression, and I have endeavoured to avoid similar 

 error. My object in relating this anecdote is to excite the 



