PRINCIPLES, CANONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS. 2^ 



desi-mation. Recognition of the scientific fact, that a ' species,' so called, is 

 not a fixed and special creation, as long supposed, but simply a group of the 

 same intrinsic character as that called a ' genus,' though usually less exten- 

 sive and always of a lower taxonomic rank, has done more than any other 

 single thing to advance the science of Zoology ; for the whole theory of evo- 

 lution turns, as it were, upon this point. 



It is therefore obvious that nearly all that has been afihrmed of generic 

 names may be here reaffirmed of specific names. Points requiring further 

 comment are comparatively trivial, and purely technical. 



Specific and subspecific names (here conveniently treated together, as 

 were generic and subgeneric names) differ from the names of higher groups 

 chiefly in the fact, that as a rule they are adjectives, not nouns, or at least of 

 such adjectival character as the genitive case of a noun implies. But even 

 to this distinction tlie exceptions are many. Specific names, like Latin 

 adjectives, unlike generic ones, are liable to change of termination to agree 

 in "-ender with the generic names with which they may be coupled. Again, 

 like Latin nouns, they are declinable, and may take a genitive case, singular 

 or plural (but the plural is comparatively rare: e. g.^ Icterus parisorum^ 

 Mci^alama jnarshallorum, Passerciilus sanctorum). In many cases, no 

 grammatical agreement with the associated generic name is possible. This 

 occurs when the word is barbarous and not Latinized, and also when it is a 

 Latin or Latinized noun in the nominative case. 



Specific names have the peculiarity that, though they are always single 

 words, in effect, they may be so loosely compounded as to take a hyphen, 

 and therefore seem like two words. E. g.^ Archibiiteo saiicti-johannis, Ca- 

 loptenus fcmnr-rubrum. Among strict binomialists, in some departments of 

 Zoology, especially Entomology, the propriety of the actual appearance of three 

 Aords in a binomial designation has been questioned. *' The usage of a 

 third word, however, connected with the second by a hyphen, as is common 

 and desirable in the case of gall-insects, e. g., Cynips qucrcns-palustris., is not 

 to be considered an infraction of this [the binomial] rule." (C. V. Riley.) 

 Professor Riley says further, in the same connection : " In some cases, as 

 in the names of gall-insects, it has become the custom to indicate the plant 

 upon which the gall occurs, by combining the name of the plant with the 

 specific name of the insect. Such indication is desirable and useful ; . . . . 

 and we are of opinion that the combined specific name, whether the botani- 

 cal term be abbreviated or in full, should be looked upon as one [loosely 

 compounded] word." 



There being no necessary intrinsic difference between a generic and a spe- 

 cific name, zoologists have sought to make an artificial distinction by using a 

 small or 'lower-case ' letter for the initial of every specific name, the capitals 

 being confined to generic and higher names. The old practice was differ- 

 ent, substantive specific names, especially those derived from names of per- 

 sons or places, being written with a capital. The practice still prevails in 



