INDEX ABECEDARIUS: 
An AupuaseticaL Inpex to Tax First Epition or tHE Species 
Plantarum or Linnzxus 
Compitep sy WILLIAM PHILIP HIERN, F.R.S. 
i 
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HE Binary method of Nomenclature, that is, the designation 
of Cock by means of two words, the generic and the trivial 
names, takes its epoch from the year 1758, the date of publication 
of the first edition of Linneus'’s Species pied nea This method 
has proved to be the most convenient hitherto employed in classi- 
fication, and it is now generally adopted. Notwithstanding some 
exceptions, whether attempted to be imposed by authority or due 
to the idiosyncrasies of pattonlar botanists, it is a leading principle 
that the law of priority in respect of the time of publication is 
dominant, so that the oldest name, legitimately published accor- 
ding fo the Binary method and available for use, should in each 
case a ang - all later names. Hence it results that the 
names given in the work abov o bited are and must be in frequent 
use and refere i. Be re the bank is very scarce, a complete index 
consisted ‘of two ame and these appeared in different months 
of the same year. The preface was dated 2nd May, 1753, and thus 
bas first volume is dee ve been ao rcgee during that 
n contents t e 
nth ; ble of 
onal volume, which begins after the title with page 561, is 
credited with the date of August, 1753. Consistently with this 
October, 1753, before Linnzus as president, used the new Binary 
nomenclature, with the eee explanatory statement :— 
in re, poles tanto majori usus sum, qu nomina ex Speciebus 
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In this essay the names of species were taken from both volumes 
Journat or Botany, Aprin, 1906. b 
