430 Correspondence. os 
which bears this name was discovered by J. K. Townsend, who named it 
Fringilla bicolor, unaware that Linneus had previously applied the same 
name to another species: The mistake was detected many years later by 
Stejneger, who substituted for the untenable name dzcolor the tenable 
name melanocorys. There are here three separate entities: (a) a large, 
black-and-white finch for whose discovery and description Townsend is 
responsible, (4) a specific name dzcolor applied to this bird by Townsend, 
and (c) a specific name melaxocorys applied to the same bird by Stejneger. 
The finch belongs to the realm of zoOlogy, its discovery and first descrip- 
tion to that of history, while the two names are the concern of nomen- 
clature. As the earlier of these is untenable it is rejected in favor of the 
later, for which Stejneger alone is authority, regardless of the fact that he 
had nothing whatever to do with the discovery and description of that 
particular black-and-white finch to which he applied the name melanocorys. 
I have gone into considerable detail with this example, because, remarkably 
enough, it seems necessary to force home the truth that nomenclature is 
like a good shoemaker who sticks close to his last and busies himself with 
matters historical, botanical, and zoOlogical so far only as they aid him in 
understanding and manipulating the materials of his calling. 
If therefore the name of the discoverer of a species is of so little moment 
when he himself has published his discovery, why should it acquire 
importance when he has published nothing? 
As I have attempted to show, the citation of the writer of a manuscript 
name, when he is not also the publisher, accomplishes no purpose in 
harmony with the aims of nomenclature. The double citation of writer 
and publisher together introduces an irrelevant element, and where the 
burden to memory is already so great, any addition without compensating 
gain is to be avoided. Finally the single citation of the publisher alone 
fulfils an important end. 
Very truly yours, 
GeRRIT S. MILLER, JR. 
U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D. C. 
