218 ELEPIIAS COLUMBI. 



his senior. But the systematic names of natural objects are 

 not marketable commodities, or negociable instruments of 

 exchange, passable from hand to hand, at the option or 

 caprice of the holders ; nor does the usage of science coun- 

 tenance such accommodating arrangements as those above 

 indicated. 



Let us now see what intrinsic claims the Elephas Texianus 

 of Messrs. Owen and Blake has upon the recognition of palae- 

 ontologists, Mr. Blake being their exponent : — 



' As the British Association, in their rules for Zoological 

 Nomenclature, have authoritatively sanctioned the principle 

 that names not clearly defined, and likely to propagate im- 

 portant errors, may be changed, and as the name of E. 

 Columbi lays itself open to the grave charge that it is not 

 clear whether it is named in honour of Columbus, or because 

 it is found in Columbia (Venezuela y Nueva Granada), I trust 

 that this name will not be accepted. That of E. Texianus, 

 founded upon a yet unimpeached geographical distinction, 

 if it has not the advantage of published priority, yet gives 

 a more lucid idea of the nature of the species which it 

 indicates. 



' The figure by Mr. Mackie gives a better idea of its ap- 

 pearance than any mere verbal description. I however define 

 it as Elephas Texianus, dentium molarium (m. 6) Colliculi 

 undulati, magis remoti quam in E. Indico. Its association 

 with E. Indicus and Armeniacus, by Dr. Falconer, seems war- 

 ranted by its legitimate affinities.' (Op. cit. p. 58.) 



In reply to the first point, the author must permit me to 

 remark that the supposed ' important error ' and ' grave 

 charge ' are only the results of unripe knowledge and inex- 

 perience. The derivation of E. Columbi is so obvious, that 

 nothing I can say coidd make it plainer. No educated na- 

 turalist could apply the term to the geographical region of 

 Colombia, without giving it an adjective form, or supple- 

 menting the lasc vowel with an important terminal diphthong, 

 the requirements of the case being inexorable. Putting aside 

 the fact that Colombia was nowhere in question as a habitat 

 of the species, the British Association has not legislated 

 against Latin grammar. 



As regards the force of the claim, put forward in the 

 second clause, every terrestrial mammal must have a regional 

 habitat somewhere ; but I fail to apprehend how the proposed 

 geographical name would convey ' a more lucid idea of the 

 nature of the species.' In natural history, the distinctive 

 characters of species are commonly founded on something 

 more intrinsic and tangible. Further, four years before, I 

 indicated that the fossil species had ranged from Georgia to 



