Sere 
III. Zootoey ann Botany. — 
OL Report on Scientific Nomenclature, (Proceedings of the Sixth 
Annual Meeting of the Assoc. of Am. Geol. and Nat. 1845, p. 69.)— 
Your Committee on Nomenclature haying revised the laws and sugges- 
tions on this subject, published in the British Association, concur in re- 
Ls 
, commending their general adoption. They have hesitated only with 
regard to writing names derived from persons or localities with an initial 
small letter instead of a capital. In citing the names of original dis- 
coverers in connection with that of a subsequent systematist by whom 
the Original name had been changed, they have preferred, as most sim- 
ple and concise, the plan which is proposed in the Report referred to, 
in @ note to page 120, where this subject is discussed. 
The following abstract has been made out in as concise a manner 
as possible, to secure more easy reference, and a more extended cir- 
culation : but they would strongly urge the perusal of the whole Re- 
port in the volume of the British Association for 1842, (pp. 105 to 121,) 
0) which numerous examples are given by way of illustration, and the 
Teasons for adopting the various laws are presented in a forcible and 
lucid manner,* | 
_ I. LAW OF PRIORITY, WITH ITS LIMITATIONS. 
: a 1. The name originally given toa group or species by its founder, 
should be retained, to the exclusion of all subsequent synonyms. 
: The systematic nomenclature having originated with Linnaeus, this 
law is not to-extend to the writings of more ancient authors. 
. § 2. In the progress of science it often becomes necessary to restrict 
6r extend the characteristics of a genus, or subdivide a genus into sey- 
eral genera. The following principles bearing upon the above law, 
should be adopted in making such changes. 
~ @ When several smaller genera are united in one, the name of the 
-farliest, if otherwise unobjectionable, should be selected for the name 
of the whole group. a 
4. When a genus is subdivided, the original generic name should 
not be cancelled, but should be retained for that portion of it which was 
considered typical by the author: or if the evidence as to the original 
type is not clear and indisputable, it may be given to any portion of it. 
‘c. When two authors define and name the same genus, both making 
it exactly of the same extent, the latter name should be cancelled in 
to, and not retained ina modified sense : except, when its type (as 
laid down by its author) belongs toa different section of the genus from 
* : that of the other name, and both sections are elevated to genera. 
the genus Monaulus of VieitLor, (1816,) is a precise equivalent 
Oe toe cso, (1813,) both authors having adopted the same 
_ * The Report is here given as it was finally adopted. 
