284 THROUGH THE FIELDS WITH LINNAEUS 



the application of numerical figures to each species, in 

 Haller's manner, being still more burdensome to the 

 memory, all natural science would have been ruined for 

 want of a common language, were it not for this simple 

 invention.' 1 [The simplest inventions are generally the 

 happiest.] ' By this means we speak of every natural 

 production in two words its generic and its specific 

 name. No ambiguous comparisons or references are 

 wanted, no presupposition of anything already known. 

 The distinguishing character of each object is mostly 

 stamped in its name, and if this perfection of art can- 

 not always be attained, the memory is assisted, often very 

 ingeniously, with collateral information, indicating the 

 colour, the habit, or the qualities of the object of our 

 examination. 2 The philosophical tribe of naturalists 

 for so they are called by themselves and their admirers 

 do not, therefore, depreciate Linnasus when they call 

 him a nomenclator. On the contrary, they celebrate him 

 for a merit which no other person has attained, and 

 without which their own discoveries and remarks, of 

 whatever value, would not be understood. Whatever may 

 have been thought of the Linnagan trivial names at 

 their first appearance, they are now in universal use, 



1 Smith. 



2 ' To us modern systematic botanists Linnaeus's classification is 

 now chiefly of historical interest, but the great naturalist has left 

 his permanent stamp on science by the invention of his system of 

 'binomial nomenclature. This was first fully shown in the " Species 

 Plantarum," 1753, and, I suppose, has done more towards a know- 

 ledge of nature than anything else. But it has no sort of connection 

 with the sexual system of classification.' H. TRIMEN. 



