6 



d. In compounding two Latin words, the same rule should be fol- 

 lowed, except that i should be substituted when the genitive ends in 

 a ; pennceformis should be penniformis. 



e. Specific names, derived from localities, should terminate in 

 ensis : those derived from names of persons, when given in honor 

 of the discoverer, should end in the genitive i, or ii, (i, when the 

 name ends in a consonant, and ii when in a vowel) ; but when in 

 compliment to a person not a discoverer, the adjective should end in 

 anus. But names derived from the names of persons or localities 

 are very objectionable : see beyond, 6, 5, c. 



III. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE FUTURE IMPROVEMENT OF SYSTEMATIC 



NOMENCLATURE. 



The following suggestions, although they cannot be invested with the 

 authority of laws, are worthy of being strictly regarded in the future in- 

 troduction of scientific names. 



5. The best names are those derived fi*om the Greek or Latin lan- 

 guage, the former being in general preferable for generic names, and 

 the latter for specific. 



6. It is desirable, 



a. To select names which may indicate some sensible character- 

 istic of the object : this will greatly aid the memory. 



b. To avoid specific names derived from localities. 



c. To avoid invariably deriving generic and specific names from 

 the names of persons. 



d. To avoid comparative names, such as Picoides, Emberizoides, 

 maximus, minor, minimus, &c. 



e. To avoid ancient names of species, except when they can be 

 correctly applied with their ancient signification. 



f. To avoid names closely resembling others in use. 



g. To avoid names having no meaning. 



h. To avoid the introduction, under a new signification, of names 

 that have been once ranked among synonyms, except in the cases 

 alluded to in 2, c. 



i. To avoid making a generic name out of a former specific name. 



k. To avoid introducing for a genus in Zoology a name already in 

 use for a genus in Botany, and the reverse. 



I. To avoid names of harsh and inelegant pronunciation. 

 7. It is recommended that names of Families should end uniformly 

 in ida, and Subfamilies in ina. 



