PRINCIPLES, CANONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 



23 



most particular or restricted. Between all these, however, intermediate 

 groups are commonly recognized, and distinguished by the prefix sub- or 

 super- ; as, sub-ordo, supcr-familia. Among these common names those in 

 most general employ are Siibordo, Sitbfamilia, Subgenus, and Subspecies. 

 Several other common names are in use, but to a limited extent, and with- 

 out that definiteness of signification which attaches to the rest, since they 

 are used for groups of very different relative rank by different authors, while 

 the taxonomic subordination of the others is practically fixed. Such com- 

 mon names are P/iy/um, Tribus, Lcgio, Co/tors, Phalanx^ Scctio, etc. 



'•The al)ove terms are more or less generally accepted; the relative values 

 being more fully and generally recognized in Botany than in Zoology. In 

 the literature of the latter branch some of the terms above mentioned are 

 rarely found, though by no means unnecessary for careful discrimination. 

 The term Tribe [and also Cohort, Section, etc.] in Zoology has been used 

 with several different values. In this, as in other respects, the inchoate 

 condition of zoological nomenclature as compared with that of Botany is 

 clearly apparent." (Dall, AV/., p. 24.) 



Considering that fixity and precision are as desirable here as elsewhere 

 in nomenclature, the following scale of common names is recommended 

 as adequate to all practical requirements of even a refined system of classi- 

 fication : — 



I. Recnuvi : Kingdom. 



Subregnum ; Subkingdom. 

 Classis : Class. 

 Subclassis : Subclass. 

 Super or do : Superorder. 

 Ordo : Order. 

 Subordo : Suborder. 



3- 



4- 



5- 

 6. 



7- 



8. Superfamilia : Superfamily. 



9. Familia : Family. 



10. Subfamilia : Subfamily. 



11. Genus : Genus. 



12. Subgenus: Subgenus. 



13. Species: Species. 



14. Subspecies : Subspecies. 



15. Varietas : Variety. 



16. Animal : Individual. 



Canon II. All members f any one group in Zoology are in- 

 cluded in and compose the next higher group, and no inversion 

 of the relative rank of groups is admissible. 



Remarks. — Thus, all individuals belong to a species, all species to a 

 genus, all genera to a family, all families to an order, all orders to a class ; 

 and so also of the other (intermediate) groups given under head of the pre- 

 ceding Canon. 



" The definition of each of these terms or [common] names of groups va- 

 ries, up to a certain point, according to the state of science or the views of 

 the individual writer using them, but their relative rank, sanctioned by usage, 

 cannot be inverted. No classification containing inversions, such as a di- 

 vision of a genus into families, or of a species into genera, car. be admitted." 

 (De Candolle, as rendered by Dall, Rep., p. 25.) 



