LINNZUS AND NATURAL HISTORY 127 
kinds or species became Canis lupus, the wolf, Canis vulpes, 
the fox, Canis familiaris, the common dog. This simple 
method took the place of the varying names applied to the 
same animal in different countries and local names in the 
same country. It recognized at once their generic likeness 
and their specific individuality. 
All animals, plants, and minerals were named according 
to this method. Thus there were introduced into nomencla- 
ture two groups, the genus and the species. The name of 
the genus was a noun, and that of the species an adjective 
agreeing with it. Inthe choice of these names Linneus 
sought to express some distinguishing feature that would be 
suggestive of the particular animal, plant, or mineral. The 
trivial, or specific, names were first employed by Linnzus in 
1749, and were introduced into his Species Plantaruim in 
1753, and into the tenth edition of his Systema Nature in 
1758. 
We recognize Linnzus as the founder of nomenclature in 
natural history, and by the common consent of naturalists 
the date 1758 has come to be accepted as the starting-point 
for determining the generic and specific names of animals. 
The much vexed question of priority of names for animals is 
settled by going back to the tenth edition of his Systema Na- 
ture, while the botanists have adopted his Species Plantarum, 
1753, as their base-line for names. As to his larger divisions 
of animals and plants, he recognized classes and orders. Then 
came genera and species. Linnaus did not use the term 
family in his formule; this convenient designation was first 
used and introduced in 1780 by Batch. 
The Systema Nature is not a treatise on the organization 
of animals and plants; it is rather a catalogue of the produc- 
tions of nature methodically arranged. His aim in fact was 
not to give full descriptions, but to make a methodical 
arrangement. 
