128 REV. W. WOOLLS, PH.D., F.L.S., ON THE 



— such as the nomenclature of the Flora, the distinction 

 between species and variety, the simplification and division 

 of genera, and the rearrangement of natural orders- — remain 

 yet to be considered. Any one Avho reads the preface to 

 Lindley's work on the Vegetable Kingdom will see how 

 anxious the Professor was to improve the nomenclature of 

 botany and to suppress as far as practicable names of 

 unusual dimensions and difficult to pronounce. Thougli 

 something has already been done in this direction, it is still 

 desirable to effect further improvements, for such long wordy 

 as CeratojMtalnin apetalum, Aplianopetalum resinosum, Arnorpho- 

 phallus variabilis, Arnorphospernnim antilogwn, and Taherna'- 

 montana orientalis, show that notwithstanding the changes 

 effected by Bentham and Mueller, the nomenclature of 

 the Australian Flora needs reform. Words formed from 

 Latin or Greek, expressive of some feature peculiar to a 

 species, are certainly the most suitable for general use, and 

 are understood by the educated in all countries, but then 

 such words should be limited to a few syllables, and, if 

 possible, be euphonious. But long names, especially as 

 specific, are frequently complained of, and none more so than 

 those in honour of some great man. ]\Iuch as man}- of the 

 Baron's names may be admired for their elegance and 

 expressiveness, one can scarcely defend Kentia Behiioreiuui, K. 

 Canterhuryana, K. Wendlandiana, K. Forsteriana, or Enra- 

 lyptufi Plane] ioniana, and E. Foelsclieana, on the ground ot 

 brevity or expressiveness. But the illustrious author of the 

 Prodromes was not altogether free from a similar charge^ 

 though only to a limited extent, for in order to immortalise 

 the names of those Avhom he delighted to honour we have 

 the genera Pcllendenia, Eianklandia, Eevenhookia, juul Lesch- 

 enaultia, names certainly derived from distinguished authors 

 and botanists, but not calculated to improve the nomencla- 

 ture of science. There may be exceptional cases, in which 

 men from the pre-eminent position they have held, seem 

 entitled to every distinction, but as a general rule the 

 naming of genera after some noble or learned person teaches 

 nothing by which a genus is characterised, nor can it be done 

 on all occasions without making invidious distinctions. It 

 must be left, therefore, for botanists of the future to decide 

 whether it is better to make the Flora an instrument of 

 personal glorification, or to impress on genera such names as 

 may guide the studi-nt in his endeavour to trace out the 

 difibrences of natural objects. The niulliplieation of h.aul 



