52 INDEX GENERUM MAMMALIUM. 
COMPOUNDS. 
A large proportion of modern generic names are compound words. 
Latin offers comparatively little opportunity for making compounds, 
and the number of such words is relatively small, although modifica- 
tions by prefixes and suffixes are common. The Greek language lends 
itself almost as readily as the German to this kind of word making, 
and nouns are coupled together or modified by adjectives and preposi- 
tions in almost endless variety.“ Formerly compounds seem to have 
been in disfavor, for Illiger, in 1811, following Linneus, rejected them, 
and quotes three Linnean rules as authority for so doing: 
225. N[omina] g[enerica] cui syllaba una vel altera preeponitur (aut aufertur) ut 
aliud genus, quam antea, significet, excludendum est.  Perameles. | Promerops. 
227. N. g. ex aliis nominibus genericis cum syllaba quadam in fine addita, conflata, 
non placent. DBalenoptera, Delphinapterus. 
226. N. g. in oides desinentia, e foro (zoologico) releganda sunt. Pelecanoides. 
Picoides. Talpoides. (Prod. Syst. Mamm. et Avium, p. xvii.) 
It is difficult to understand this position, since compounds have the 
sanction of classical writers. Among numerous classical compound 
words which have been used as generic names of mammals may be 
mentioned Acanthonotus, Agricola, Camelopardalis, Cataphractus, 
Cynaloper, Hippopoteam US, Hippotigris, Hiydropotes, Nyctereutes, and 
Rhinoceros. At the present time compounds are considered not only 
unobjectionable, but highly desirable, for without them it would be 
almost impossible to coin designations for the ever-increasing multi- 
tude of genera and species without resorting to anagrams and arbi- 
trary combinations of letters. They may have the advantage of 
indicating the relationship of a genus, and, what is even more impor- 
tant, of insuring it from being preoccupied in other groups. For 
example, compounds of J/vs are usually restricted to rodents, and are 
not likely to be used in any class except mammals; the prefix ew 1s 
constantly used to distinguish the typical genus or subgenus from 
groups which are aberrant, in contradistinction to such prefixes as 
hemi- and para- or the suffix odes, which merely indicate resemblance; 
and the intensive za is used to call attention to some prominent or 
striking character. 
Nowhere have compounds been more constantly and more effectually 
employed than in paleontology. Indeed, we have here a certain 
approximation toward the standard which Coues has pictured as the 
ideal name when he says— 

aA few genera have been made by combining words of Greek and Latin derivation, 
thus forming so-called ‘hybrid names,’ which are very generally (and very properly) 
looked upon witb disfavor. Such are: Interodon, Interatherium, Laniodon, Nesciothe- 
rium; some taken from proper names, like Blainvillimys, Cuviermys, ete., and many 
of the geographical names. Such compounds, in the words of a recent writer, ‘‘are 
enough to make one's hair stand on end." 
