422 On Nomenclature. 



The word sky is sometimes used for heaven ; a name, like- 

 wise, of various meaning; sometimes for air, and for climate; 

 but the name itself suggests no relation to the senses of those 

 •who view it. The boundless-blue-above, or the sun-moon- 

 and-stars-place, would be compound names, suggesting their 

 definitive objects. No inconvenience, however, arises from 

 the indefiniteness and inexpressiveness of names of things 

 constantly before us. An elevation of the eyes, and a point- 

 ing finger, teach a child or a stranger the meaning of the 

 word sky, as well as a definition. But names of things, 

 which can rarely or never be submitted to the senses, are 

 useless, unless they express some relations to other names 

 which are more familiar. If a traveller tells of his delight 

 in procuring Hoffmannana, or Villarsia, or Borreriana, he 

 adds to Villarsia a synonyme, Menyanthes nymphaeoides ; 

 and, if he is previously known to be talking of water plants, 

 he may thus be understood by a botanist : so he adds Salix 

 to Hoffmannana, to show that he means, I . a plant ; 2. a 

 species of willow; 3. possessing a character noticed by Hoff- 

 mann, &c. The name Rafflesia Arnoldi expresses no relation 

 to plants, or to tribe, or division, or family, or class, or genus, 

 or species. It is not, like John or Thomas, the name of an 

 individual of a known genus. When first discovered, it was 

 a mere individual. Other species have been since described, — 

 Fatma and Brugmansia. It may be well, to do honour to 

 discoverers, to add their names after significant names in 

 catalogues of plants ; but, if it be desirable that language 

 should be readily and clearly understood, it is certainly de- 

 sirable that names should, as far as possible, suggest the kind 

 or class of things to which their objects have most resem- 

 blance or affinity. Ranunculus is the familiar name of a 

 genus of plants, or of many plants, agreeing in almost all 

 properties which are not found to vary by mere change of 

 soil or temperature. Of these, however, there are many 

 species, all of which agree in some important characteristic 

 or characteristics of the genus by which it is distinguished 

 from other genera. All so agreeing may be called Plantae 

 Ranunculaceae ; but what common property connects lark- 

 spur, columbine, or monk's-hood with Ranunculus ? None 

 distinguishable before the formation of the seed-vessel. 

 Then, indeed, it appears that these plants agree in this ; viz. 

 that their ovaria are either in more than one row ; or, if soli- 

 tary, then the stamens are opposite to the petals. These 

 characters connect together in classification plants widely 

 dissimilar in trunk, and leaf, and blossom, and exterior form 

 of seed-vessel, and in general habits of growth, &c. Yet 



