520 Miscellaneous. 
which is scarcely shorter, or even to leave out the (sp.). The reader 
is thus to note that Linnzeus originally gave the specific name thalze- 
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-Linnzan 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. eymbalarius! 
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 Linneeus 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 Linneeus printed with a small initial, e. g., 
R. lapponicus, &e. DeCandolle 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. 
“§ F. 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.— 
Silliman’s American Journal, March 1864, p. 278. 
On the Roman Imperial and Crested Eagles. By Joun Hoag, 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. el 
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