PEEFAOE. xi 



species remained to be decided on. Similar strange arguments are used in discussing 

 the priority of the generic names Faphia and Mesodesma^ and of several others. 



The argument brought forward is simply, that because an author has described 

 under a generic name several species which are referable to different genera, his 

 generic name should not be accepted. I would hardly notice this want of conse- 

 quence based upon an untenable argument were it not advocated by, I may say, one 

 of our greatest conchological authorities. Instances such as these ought, I believe, 

 to be pointed out, for they have injurious influence upon the study of fossil con- 

 chology, and indeed threaten to affect the principles of scientific nomenclature. 



Deshayes by his enormous labours has produced a school of followers some of 

 whom, I may say, accept blindly whatever has been placed on record by him. No 

 independent idea is allowed to establish itself in the mind of the student, and if 

 such has involuntarily pressed itself forward, it is stated with hesitation, the facts 

 are given as not agreeing with those put forward by the great master, but they must 

 not be introduced without his sanction. No other information is listened to, for 

 Deshayes says so and so, &c. A pitiful state of scientific research, and greatly to 

 be regretted ! Where are we to look for progress in the study of fossil conchology, if 

 the science loses so many opportunities offered to her of obtaining an insight into 

 the secrets of nature! That so many palaeontologists follow Deshayes in their 

 researches may certainly be considered laudable; but that many copy his occasional 

 or accidental mistakes and then even defend these, because they are believed to 

 represent that author's views, is, to say the least, discreditable. Mr. Deshayes 

 would certainly not accept such a compliment.— It is an entirely mistaken opinion 

 to put forth that the scientific man can himself be the only judge of what he has 

 done for science, and that no one else is entitled to give an explanation of his work 

 but himself. And yet Mr. Deshayes brings that argument forward almost every 

 time that it suits him ; as, for instance, when it pleases an author to abandon one 

 name and replace it by another without any apparent reason. — An author has no 

 more right to change a name proposed by himself, when once published and adopted 

 in science, than any other fellow worker has. 



I can fairly say that I would be the last man to throw the slightest shadow 

 upon the labours of those who did honor to science before many of us were born, 

 but I do hold, that science should remain a republic in which every man is allowed 

 to express freely his own opinion. Nay, science has a right to demand from every 

 one of her servants the expression of an independent opinion derived from direct 

 observation or thought. / 



