159, PHILOSOPHY OF ZOOLOOY. 



^«*, another T. Merula, furnishes an example of the exception 

 here referred to. When the specific name is in the genitive 

 case, it is always derived from the proper name of the zoo- 

 logist who discovered it, or who contributed to illustrate its 

 characters. Thus, Llparis Montagul, was so named by 

 Donovan *, in honour of the late George Montagu, Esq. 

 who first detected it on the Devonshire coast. The appli- 

 cation of the proper names of zoologists, to the construction 

 of the specific names of animals, ought to be restricted to 

 those who have illustrated the species. Of late years, how- 

 ever, this honour has been bestowed on observers to whom 

 the species has even been unknown ; and not contented 

 with using the names of zoologists, those of wives, friends, 

 or patrons, have been extensively employed. To bestow 

 zoological honours on those who are not interested in the 

 progress of science, is ridiculous ; and to neglect the original 

 discoverer in order to do this, is base -f-. It were better, 

 perhaps, to proscribe the practice ; or if it is to be persist- 

 ed in, the termination ought not to be in the genitive, but 

 the nominative case. In all the exceptions noted in this 

 paragraph, it is customary to distinguish them from the 

 ordinary specific names, by making the first a capital letter. 

 Before concluding these remarks on specific names, it is 

 necessary to state, that the discoverers of species have the 

 undoubted right of imposing the names, and that these 



" British Fishes, Tab. Ixviii. 



-|- The motive might be misinterpreted, were I to point out instances in 

 which such names have been imposed from weak and selfish purposes. It 

 may be of more use to quote the opinions of Linnojus, in reference to such 

 honours, as connected with the generic names of plants. " Unicum Bota- 

 iiicorum premium, hinc non abutcndum est." — " Hoc unicum et summum 

 prajmiuro laboris, sancte servandum et caste dispcnsandum ad incitamentum 

 €t ornamentum Botanices."- Ph. Bet. 170. 



