1877.] ANATOMY OF THE RUMINANTS. 17 
different. There, the knowledge of the composition of any non- 
elementary substance is sufficient for the determination of the name 
by which it should be designated ; and, vice versd, from the name its 
composition may be inferred. Why should we not be able to do the 
same in biology? We form estimates as to the mutual affinities of 
genera which can bear the test of criticism as well as any rational 
chemical formula; is it not just as possible to express them in our 
nomenclature as do the chemists in theirs? It is quite conceivable 
that it should be done; and I have the boldness, on the present 
occasion, to endeavour to make a step in the direction indicated, 
taking the Cervidee to illustrate my method. I should not desire 
any one to think that the method I am about to suggest is at all a final 
one; for it only comprehends a single small group of Mammalian 
animals. Nevertheless, if by it I am able to demonstrate its practical 
utility, and to develop in others a desire that it should be extended 
in its scope, there is nothing easier than to expand it. 
From what has been remarked earlier in this paper, it is evident 
that there are osteological reasons for separating off the Old-World 
from the New-World Cervide. Representing degrees of slightly 
more than generic importance by Roman capitals, this difference 
between the two groups may be indicated by the employment of 
letters separated by some distance in the alphabet. I therefore 
commence with A in formulating the Old-World species, and with 
P in those of America. Following the initial capital, I place a small 
letter, which represents the genus; and the species of each of the 
latter are indicated by numbers following, raised above the line, as in 
mathematics when the square, cube, &c. are expressed. When a 
species, like the Elk, stands by itself, it is not necessary to append 
the smaller signs. With this amount of explanation, the following 
Table (III.) will need no further description :— 
Taste III. 
Cervipa. 
A. Alces machlis. Ca°. R. swinhoit. 
Ba’ C. elaphus. Ca®. R. mariana. 
Ba*. C. canadensis. Ca’. R. peronii. 
Ba’. C. cashmeerianus. Ca®. R. kuhiii. 
Ba’. @. barbarus. Ca’. R. alfredi. 
Ba’. C. maral. Cb. C. avis. 
Ba’. C. affnis. Ce. CO. porcinus. 
Bb’. Dama vulgaris. Cd’. Rucervus schomburghii. 
Bb’. D. mesopotamica. Cd’. BR. duvaucelli, 
Be'. Pseudavis sika. Cd’. R. eldi. 
Be’. P. mantchuricus. D. Elaphurus davidianus. 
Be*. P. taévanus. Ea’. Cervulus muntjac. 
Ca’. Rusa aristotelis. Ea’. C. reevesi. 
Ca’. R. hippelaphus. Eb. Hlaphodus cephalophus, 
Ca®. R. moluccensis. F. Capreolus caprea. 
Ca*. R. equina. G. Hydropotes inermis, 
Proc. Zoox. Soc.—1877, No. II. 2 
