114 



SCIENCE 



[N. S. Vol. XLV. No. 1153 



scattered black spots and spotted undersides of 

 B. americanus. All this, in conjunction with 

 Mr. H. A. Allard's notes and observations, 

 would lead one to believe that both species are 

 closely related, and that they possibly inter- 

 breed occasionally, these forms with the char- 

 acteristic marks, etc., of both species represent- 

 ing the hybrids. 



In conclusion I will state that the typical 

 B. americanus and the typical B. fowleri differ 

 in the following characters, based on examina- 

 tion of hundreds of specimens, covering a pe- 

 riod of ten or more years : 



Bufo americanus Le Conte 



1. Head broad, profile sloping towards tip of snout. 



2. Cranial crests always diverging from the nos- 



trils. 



3. Skin covered with comparatively large round 



warts, often arranged in rows or groups, the 

 former on the back, the latter on hind limbs. 

 The undersides are more or less granular. 

 The larger warts often have spiny tips, espe- 

 cially in large females. 



4. The legs are stout, and moderately long, the 



foot large and thick, the fingers rather short 

 and thick. 



Bufo fowleri Putnam 



1. Head narrow, very thick, profile abruptly 



rounded towards the tip of the snout. 



2. Cranial crests sometimes parallel, often fused in 



the midline, forming a distinct lump between 

 the eyes. This never occurs in B. americanus. 



3. Skin finely granular above, with groups of 



larger warts. These warts are never spiny in 

 this species. The under sides are either very 

 finely granular or entirely smooth. 



4. The legs are longer, in proportion to the body, 



than of B. americanus, the foot is rather 

 delicate, fingers and toes are long and slender. 

 EiCHARD Deckert 

 N. Y. Zoological Park, 

 New York City 



the popular names of north american 



PLANTS 



To THE Editor of Science : In the course of 

 our work here, considerable numbers of plants 

 are frequently sent in by teachers to be named, 

 and doubtless many similar requests for in- 

 formation are received by the officers of the 

 provincial governments and the experiment 



stations throughout the United States. In re- 

 plying to such enquiries the Latin name of the 

 species is always given and the English name 

 where such exists. It is clear, however, that 

 pupils in the public schools, as well as many 

 of their teachers, do not and can not reason- 

 ably be expected to take any interest in or to 

 remember the Latin names of plants. This 

 being so, it is highly desirable that every spe- 

 cies of plant inhabiting the United States or 

 Canada should have an English name. It is 

 further desirable that the name should not be a 

 local one, but should be applicable to the plant 

 wherever it is found, from the Atlantic to the 

 Pacific ocean. If possible, the name should be 

 such as to distinguish the plant from allied 

 species, the name being based on some struc- 

 tural character such as height, hairiness, color 

 of flowers, etc. ; or on the habitat, such as 

 marsh, mountain, wood, etc. ; or on its use in 

 the service of man, Indian names when such 

 exist being adopted. 



Where different genera have the same Eng- 

 lish name, some qualifying word will be spe- 

 cially necessary. Eor example, fireweed may 

 mean either Erechtites hieracifolia Eaf., or 

 Epilohium angustifolium L. This ambiguity 

 would be removed by calling the former white 

 fireweed and the latter purple fireweed. 



In order that each species of plant may have 

 an English name, it would be necessary to 

 draw up a list of the species inhabiting the 

 United States and Canada, and it seems to the 

 present writer that in drawing up such a list 

 a very wide interpretation should be given to 

 the meaning of the term species. At the pres- 

 ent rate of progress, it will be many years be- 

 fore the " Iforth American Flora " — the stand- 

 ard work on the subject for this continent — 

 will be completed, and discussion as to the lim- 

 its of so-called species may be expected to con- 

 tinue for a much longer period. Consequently, 

 a provisional list should be issued, no attempt 

 being made to define the limits of a species 

 in too critical a manner, the popular English 

 names not being suited for such fine distinc- 

 tions. The common English name should be 

 applied to aggregate rather than segregate 

 species. For example, pipsissewa or prince's 



