1836.] Note on Zoological Nomenclature. 751 



IX. — Note on Zoological Nomenclature. By B. H. Hodgson, Esq. 



If I revert to the comments of your anonymous correspondent upon 

 my Cervus Elaphoides, (No. 52 for April,) it is because I think that a 

 question of some moment hangs upon the judgment pronounced in 

 this case, viz. the right to designate species, and the consequence of 

 doing so from very imperfect knowledge. 



According to your correspondent's own shewing, Cuvier never 

 procured more than the horns of this deer ; and, so conscious was 

 Cuvier, ultimately, of his inability to fix the species upon a just 

 basis, that, in his last edition of the Regne*, all mention of it is 

 omitted. Meanwhile, however, he gave it a name, upon retaining 

 which your correspondent insists, although your correspondent, in 

 the very same page, exhibits the following practical consequence of 

 such proceedings. 



The first writer of the age upon the tribe of animals to which our 

 Cervus belongs (H. Smith) is entirely misled by Cuvier's insufficient 

 definition, or rather designation, and ascribes this deer to the Rusa 

 group ! Now, it is a well known fact, that, although the more skilful 

 general writers upon zoology have, of late years, omitted half the 

 recorded species from inability to verify them, yet that, amongst the 

 species inserted, no careful student can satisfactorily refer to one in 

 ten ! Is this system to go on ? and, if not, is there any cure for it 

 but a general resolution to admit no names of species which the 

 nomenclator has not, at the time, or subsequently, verified ? 



Your correspondent has only to turn to those recent and costly 

 works upon Indian Zoology, Gould's Century and Hardwicke's 

 Illustrations, and he will find that the multiplication of idle names 

 and of fictitious species is still going on, under the auspices of per- 

 sons who neither have, nor can have, competent means of at once 

 undoing past errors and preventing future ones. Press or picture, 

 it is the same thing. Neither ought to be devoted, in permanent style, 

 to the propagation of delusion and inconvenience ; nor any ad interim 

 labours of any man recognised, (except such as he has ultimately 

 himself completed), if their recognition have that effect, at the same 

 ime that it interferes with the just reward of the ripe and adequate 

 labours of others. Finis coron at opus : and, though it may be rea- 

 sonable to admit temporarily all names, as an index and stimulus to 

 discovery, as well as to sustain eventual claims, if advanced, yet 

 those names alone are entitled to permanence which the affixers, 

 sooner or later, connect with indisputable species. Cuvier himself 



* A new and amended list of all authentic species is given in this edition. 

 5 e 2 



