4 GARMAN'S LIST OF 



or polynomials affected by different authors, can hardly be 

 considered improvements. Such names as, for example, 

 Cinosternum (Thyrosternum) pennsylvanicum pennsylvan- 

 icum (v) x, or Tropidonotus (Nerodia) compressicaudus 

 compressicaudus flavirostris (v) y, if there were varieties, 

 have the appearance of doubtful advances from a binomial 

 system. According to that system, if V first describes a spe- 

 cies under a certain title, and W discovers one closely allied 

 giving it a name and X says W's species is not suffi- 

 ciently distinct, X is entitled to the credit rather than W, 

 and the formula reads Genus (Subgenus) species subspecies 

 (V) X. That is, V is credited with a form he never saw, 

 and W is discredited by X who claims to rank with V be- 

 cause, for whatever reason, possibly insufficient knowl- 

 edge, he arrives at a conclusion differing from that of W. 

 If there are varieties, Y may displace X, and for author- 

 ities we should have (V) Y, or, if Z discovers that Y's 

 variety is out of place, (Y) Z, and in either case the 

 authorities cited may give us no information concerning 

 the form to which the names refer. 



If we are now to adopt a polynomial system, we might, 

 to be more consistent, accept the names given before 

 Linne's time. 



The modification suggested in the binomials consists in 

 using a symbol, a letter, to represent each form or race of 

 a species with its history or synonymy. To illustrate, 

 Eutaznia sirtalis Linn. ; B. & G., is the first (A) of a 

 group of forms of the species sirtalis, Linne being au- 

 thority for the species, and Baird and Girard for its posi- 

 tion in the genus. The A can always be understood and 

 need not' be written with the first described form. If 

 either the symbol or the name following it is in italics 

 there can be no confusion. 



B Eutcenice sirtalis is the form to which Catesby gave 

 the name Vipera gracilis maculatus, afterward named by 



