GENERIC NOMENCLATURE. 
Cc. L. SHEAR. a 
THE application and limitation of generic names is a subject 
which has lately received considerable attention, not only from 
botanists, but from systematic biologists in general. Efforts to 
secure at least a degree of uniformity and stability in the use 
of scientific names have become more general in recent yeat 
and quite naturally have been directed chiefly to specific desig: 
nations. To one who will give the matter careful consideration, 
however, it must appear clear that the stability of the aeeaba 
_ name is of primary importance, and must be secured before We 
can hope for stability of the binomial. I am aware is 
_ tions of nomenclature are considered beneath the notice of 
some botanists, especially some of those whose fields of 
but must have occasion at some time to use plant 
hence should be interested to some degree, at least, in any 
cere effort to secure stability and uniformity in nome” 
Personally, I have long tried to avoid and evad: 
_ believing that too great importance was attributed 
am still far from regarding it as an equivalent for © 
_ research; but having undertaken some taxonomic work 
myself confronted by certain questions that must” 
The present discussion of this subject relates a 
the fungi, as I have made no special investigation 
race 
there is very little diversity in the application oF 
but a careful comparison of the use and interpretatio® 
fames by different authors soon reveals - 
220 
