70 LAWS 01' NOMENCLATURE. 



60. (3.) Applies to names tliat are flagrantly, completely- 

 false, whose falsity no interpretation can ameliorate ; "for 

 instance, in the case of a species called annita, biit whicli 

 is perennial, or of a species bearing the name of a coun- 

 try where it does not grow, of a genus whos0 name ex- 

 presses a character that is wanting in all, or almost all the 

 species, especially a character opposed to those which dis- 

 tinguish the genus from neighbouring ones. The incon- 

 venience of changing names is, however] so evident, that 

 the application of this rule is avoided wherever it is possible. 

 For instance, Plantago major is not the largest of all, but it 

 is larger than such a one ; — that is enough ; Oircma I/utetiana 

 is found over the greater part of Europe, but it grows round 

 about Paris; — that is enough; all Ch/rysanthema have not 

 yellow flowers, but almost all have ; — that is enough. Many 

 species of the Andes, or of Himalaya, have been called 

 al/pina, but the word ' alps' has been improperly taken in 

 the sense of lofty mountains ; so alpina may pass, etc. 



60. (4.) We may hardly think ourselves authorized to do 

 away with names of sections made out of a personal name with 

 eu, -aides or -opsis, notwithstanding names of persons being 

 Latinized and not Grecified. They are not of Latin origin ; 

 that must be considered sufBcient, as we must avoid changing 

 names : only an attentive botanist will avoid making such 

 uncouth names. Mi placed before a genuine Latin name is 

 a barbarism; -ides or -opsis at the end of the word are 

 scarcely more tolerable. I do not know whether I would 

 dare change those faulty names where they exist, because of 

 the essential principles of Article 3, second paragraph, and 

 of Article 16; I hope, at any rate, I have none to reproach 

 myself with. In botany we ought to aim at some correct- 

 ness in Greek and Latin names, and try to avoid making 

 such ill-constructed words as millimetres, centimetres, bu- 

 reaucracy, panslavism, pom,- Anglican, etc., of our modern 

 languages, and which all have the defect alluded to. 



60. (5.) See the commentary on Article 33. 



66. Changing the first letters, especially the first letter of 

 a name, may occasion much inconvenience, on accoimt of 



