520 Miscellaneous. 



which is scarcely shorter, or even to leave out the (sp.). The reader 

 is thus to note that Linnaeus originally gave the specific name thalic- 

 troides, but not the generic. Who did, must be otherwise ascer- 

 tained. A pretty long experience convinces us that much confusion 

 is risked or trouble expended, and nothing worth while secured by 

 these endeavours to put forward the original rather than the actual 

 application of a specific name. Ante-Linnsean nomenclature broke 

 down in the attempt to combine specific appellation with description. 

 Here the attempt is to connect it with the history of its origin, which, 

 after all, can be rightly told only in the synonymy. The natural 

 remedy for the supposed evil which this mode of citation was to cure 

 is to consider (as is simply the fact) that the appended authority 

 does not indicate the origin, but only the application at the time 

 being, of the particular name ; and so no one is thus robbed of his 

 due. The instructed naturalist very well knows the bibliography of 

 species, or where to look for it ; the tyro can learn. 



" § C. Specific names should always be written with a small initial 

 letter, even when derived from persons or places'^ — on the ground 

 that proper names written with a capital letter are liable to be mis- 

 taken for generic. (But no naturalist would be apt to write the name 

 of a species without that of the genus, or its initial, preceding.) Also, 

 " that all species are equal, and should therefore be written all alike." 

 The question is one of convenience, taste, and usage. As to the first, 

 we do not think a strong case is made out. If mere uniformity be 

 the leading consideration, it might be well to follow the example of 

 the American author who corrected Ranunculus Flammula, Linn., 

 and R. Cymbalaria, Pursh, into R. flammulus and R. cymbalariusl 

 As to taste and usage, we suppose there would be a vast preponderance 

 against the innovation, so far as respects personal names and those 

 substantive names which Linnaeus delighted to gather from the old 

 herbalists, &c., and turn to specific use, e. g.. Ranunculus Flammula, 

 R. Lingua, R. Thora, R. Ficaria, and the like. Adjective names of 

 places and countries Linnaeus printed with a small initial, e. g., 

 R. lapponicus, &c. DeCandoUe writes such names with a capital 

 letter ; and this best accords with English analogy, but has not been 

 universally adopted, and probably will not be. 



" § jP. It is recommended that, in subdividing an old genus in future, 

 the names given to the subdivisions should agree in gender with that 

 of the original group." The practical objection to this is, that old 

 names should be revived for these genera or subgenera, if there be 

 any applicable ones, which is likely to be the case in botany. — 

 Si'lliman's American Journal, March 1864, p. 278. 



On the Roman Imperial and Crested Eagles. By John Hogg, Esq., 

 M.A., F.R.S., F.L.S., &c.* 



I purpose in the present paper to make a few brief remarks on 

 the Crested or Crowned Eagles, and the usual Roman Eagle. 



This last bird, which is generally termed the Imperial Eagle, is 



* This paper was read to the Section D of the British Association at 

 Newcastle-on-Tyne, on August 28, 1863. 



