ERRATA RECEPTA. 45 



the best key to the grand plan of nature, and improved by every real 

 addition to our knowledge of structure, provided that we cautiously 

 avoid those errors which I have referred to in this paper, and into 

 which very great men have often fallen. A good classification is a 

 convenient summary of our knowledge, an artificial memory for re- 

 taining it, and keeping it in readiness for use ; an invaluable assist- 

 ance in communicating it to others, and much more than all this it is 

 the expression of the real plan of the great author of nature, enabling 

 us to feel its beauty, and to understand the harmony which binds 

 together the infinitely varied forms of organised beings. 



It will, I hope, be perceived that in these few remarks, which 

 appear to me useful after all that has been written, I do not attempt 

 any general treatise on the subject, which would require a volume, 

 and in which I could but repeat what has been well expressed by 

 others. To those who seek the best general views, such works as 

 "Typical forms and special ends in Creation," by Doctors M'Cosh 

 and Dickie, and the admirable introduction by Agassiz to his " Con- 

 tributions to the Natural History of the United States," cannot fail 

 to aiford much satisfaction. It can hardly be said at present that 

 any particular zoological system decidedly prevails. The influence of 

 particular eminent men has produced local effects, often I am per- 

 suaded very unfavourable to real progress, but the system which 

 shall best combine all that is needed is yet to be determined, and a 

 careful study of principles must prepare the way for its reception. 



ON EERATA KECEPTA, WEITTEN AND SPOKEN. 



BY THE BET. DE. SCADDING, 



HONOEART LIBEAEIAN TO THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE. 



(Continued from Vol. X., p. 406.J1 



V. Weong Etymologies and Mispeustts. 



1. Wrong Etymologies. 



While treating, in former papers, of vernacularisms and Anglicised 

 foreign terms, I to some extent forestalled myself on the subject of 

 wrong etymologies. A few miscellaneous specimens, however, re- 



