REPORT. 



Mr. J. D. DANA, as chairman of the committee on the subject of 

 Nomenclature, read the following paper. 



Your Committee on Nomenclature having revised the laws and 

 suggestions on this subject, published by the British Association, 

 concur in recommending their general adoption. They have 

 hesitated only with regard to writing names derived from persons 

 or localities with an initial small letter instead of a capital. In 

 citing the names of original discoverers in connection with that 

 of a subsequent systematist by whom the original name had 

 been changed, they have preferred, as most simple and concise, 

 the plan which is proposed in the Report referred to, in a note to 

 page 120, where this subject is discussed. 



The following abstract has been made out in as concise a 

 manner as possible, to secure more easy reference, and a more ex- 

 tended circulation : but they would strongly urge the perusal of 

 the whole Report in the volume of the British Association for 

 1842, (pp. 105 to 121,) in which numerous examples are given 

 by way of illustration, and the reasons for adopting the various 

 laws are presented in a forcible and lucid manner.* 



I. LAW OF PRIORITY, WITH ITS LIMITATIONS. 



1. The name originally given to a group or species by its founder, 

 should be retained, to the exclusion of all subsequent synonyms. 



The systematic nomenclature having originated with Linna3us, this 

 law is not to extend to the writings of more ancient authors. 



2. In the progress of science it often becomes necessary to restrict 

 or extend the characteristics of a genus, or subdivide a genus into sev- 

 eral genera. The following principles bearing upon the above law, 

 should be adopted in making such changes. 



* The Report following, is given, as adopted with some modifications, by the 

 Association. 



