32 



SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



GENERIC NAMES OF DIATOMS. 



By Rev. Adam Clarke Smith. 



T^ROM my connection with the Postal Micro- 

 ■'• scopical Society, I know that a number of 

 persons are interested in and are working at 

 Diatoms, that most fascinating subject. They are, 

 however, unless classical scholars, sadly hampered 

 in their study with the nomenclature. For the 

 sake of an acquaintance, I have translated, as far 

 as I could, the generic names, and thinking that the 

 list might be useful to others, I have offered the 

 result to Science-Gossip. 



These generic names were generally given from 

 fanciful resemblances ; many are very happy, and 

 help greatly to separate the class from others, but 

 some are difficult to ferret out, or to perceive the 

 resemblance. I have made out what I could ; I 

 have left the others as blanks, hoping that some 

 readers may be able to hit the meanings ; if so, I 

 shall be very glad if they are sent to me that I 

 may add them in some future number of this 

 periodical. 



It will be at once perceived that I have not taken 

 proper names of individuals, such as Kitton's ; that 

 of itself would form an admirable memorial of 

 some of our leading Diatomists and scientific men, 

 whether alive or dead. 



Some of my difficulties I have submitted to Mr. 

 Grove and Mr. Nelson, but they seem as much 

 puzzled as I am. Any one in London who has 

 access to the library of the R.M.S. or to the 

 University Libraries of Oxford and Cambridge, 

 might discover the meaning, or the intention of the 

 givers on first naming them. 



The specific names are more easily to be made 

 out, being mainly derived from the Latin ; whereas 

 the generic are generally Greek combinations, and 

 sometimes are very fanciful. 



The [g) after some words signifies that it is taken 

 from the genitive case, as adis — a ray, genitive — 

 actinos. 



Derivations of Generic Names of 



DlATOMACE^. 



AcHNANTHES, sca-foam flower ; achne — sea-foam, 



and anthos — a flower. 

 AcHNANTHiDiuM, a Small Achnanthes. 

 AcTiNiscus, a rayed bag ; actinos {g), and ascos — a 



bag or bottle. 

 AcTiNOCYCLUs, a rayed circle ; actinos (g), and 



cuclos — a circle. 

 AcTiNODiscus, a rayed disk ; actinos {g), and 



discos — a disk. 

 AcTiNOPTYCHUs, folded rays ; actinos {g), and 



ptuchos (g) — a fold. 



Alloioneis, a differently-sided boat ; alloios — 



different, and neis = naus — a ship. 

 Amphiprora, rounded prow ; amphi — around, and 



prora — a prow . 

 Amphipleura, rounded sides ; amphi, and pleura — 



a rib. 

 Amphitetras, four-sided ; amphi, and tetras — 



four. 

 Amphora, a jar. 



Anorthoneis, not an " Orthoneis." 

 Anthodiscus, a flowered disk ; anthos — a flower, 



and discos. 

 Arachnoidiscus, the spider's-web disk ; arachne — 



a spider, and discos. 

 Asterolampra, a shining star ; aster — a star, and 



lampros — shining . 

 AsTEROMPHALns, a star in the centre ; aster, and 



omphalos — the navel. 

 AuLiscus, a small reed or pipe. 

 Bacillaria, small rods. 

 Bacteriastrum, a star with rods ; bacterion — a rod, 



and astron — a. star. 

 Campylodiscds, a saddle-shaped disk ; campulos — 



bent, and discos. 

 Campyloneis, a bent boat ; campulos — bent, and 



neis. 

 Cerataulos, horn tube ; ceras — a horn, and 



aulos — a hollow. 

 Cestodiscus, a girdled disk ; cestos — Venus's 



girdle, and discos. 

 Cheloniodiscus, a tortoise-shaped disk ; chelone — 



a tortoise, and discos. 

 Chcetoceros, a horned chest ; coite — a chest, and 



ceras. 

 Climacosphenia, a wedge-like ladder ; clima- 



cos (g), and sphen — a wedge. 

 CoccoNEis, a berry-like boat ; coccos — a berry, 



and neis. 

 CoLLETONEMA, 3. filament of forms in mucus ; 



colletos — glued, and nema — a filament. 

 CosciNODiscus, a sieve-like disk ; coscinon — a sieve, 



and discos. 

 CosMiODiscus, a well-ordered disk ; cosmios — well- 

 ordered, and discos. 

 Craspedodiscus, a bordered disk ; craspedon — a 



border, and discos, 

 Craspedopords, a bordered hole ; craspedon, and 



poros — a hole. 

 Cyclotella, a small circle. 

 Cymatopleura, having swollen sides ; cuma — the 



swell of the sea, and pleura — a rib. 

 Cymbella, a cymbal ; cumbalon — a hollow basin. 

 Denticula, a small tooth. 



