26 



CODE OF NOMENCLATLKE. 



k 



"These names may be taken from any source whatever, or may be framed 

 in an absolutely arbitrary manner 



*' I)e CandoUe justly remarks that it is with generic names as with our 

 patronymics. Many surnames are inconvenient, or even absurd, from bear- 

 ing an adjectival form, from having an inapplicable meaning, on account 

 of being difficult to pronounce, or for some other reason. Uut, since they 

 actually exist, why should 'iieybe changed? It is not the end of Science 

 to make names : she avails herself of them to distinguish things. If a name 

 is properly formed, and different from other names, the essential points are 

 attaired. 



" Generic names may be taken from certain characters or appearances of 

 the group, from the chief habitat, names of persons, common names, and 

 even arbitrary combinations of letters. It is enough if they are properly 

 constructed, and do not lead to confusion or error." (Dall, Rcp.^ p. 27.) 



In heartily indorsing the tenor of the above extracts, we would neverthe- 

 Icf: understand the expressions ' properly formed ' and ' properly con- 

 structed' to mean rather ' contextually correct'; /. e., the name to be a 

 'generic' word within the common meaning of that term in the binomial 

 nomenclature, to be put in the place of a generic term, and to be used as 

 a Latin word, whatever its actual ' form ' or ' construction.' 



Canon VII. Proper names of all groups in Zoology, from 

 kingdom to subgenus, both inclusive, are wrirten and printed 

 with a capital initial letter. 



Remark. — The universal usage, and one of the ear-marks by which a 

 professional zoologist may be known from a literary person who uses zoologi- 

 cal nomenclature occasionally. 



Canon VIII. Proper names of species, and of subspecies or 

 'varieties,' are single words, simple or coiripound, preferably 

 adjectival or genitival, or taken as such, when practicable agree-, 

 ing in gender and number with any generic name with which 

 they are associated in binomial or trinomial nomenclature, and 

 written with a small initial letter. 



Remarks. — There is no inherent zoological difference between a 'ge- 

 neric' and a 'specific' name, — the nomen generiaim and the nomen triviale 

 of earlier zoologists. Both alike designate a 'group' in Zoology, — the 

 one a group of greater, the other a group of lesser classificatory value. 

 Some necessary distinction, which has been misconceived to exist between 

 these two names, is simply a fortuitous matter of the technique of nomencla- 

 ture, apparently arising from the circumstance that the generic and the 

 specific names form the contrasted though connected terms of a binomial 



