26 INTRODUCTION TO ZOOLOGY. 



Names. 



The grasshoppers that you have studied are indi- 

 viduals. Individuals that are much alike constitute 

 a species. Species that are much alike constitute a 

 genus. Genera that are much alike constitute a family. 



We may make up a table like this : — 



Individual. 



Species. 

 Genus. 



Family. 



All grasshoppers belong to the family Acrididse. 



In order that we shall know what kind of grass- 

 hopper or other animal or plant we are talking about, 

 they have been given names. A few of the most im- 

 portant rules for naming are here stated. 



I. The name of every animal or plant consists of 

 two parts, the name of the genus and the name of the 

 species. The name of the genus should always be 

 written first, and should always begin with a capital 

 letter. The name of the species should usually begin 

 with a small letter. 



II. The name of every animal or plant should 

 be Latin, or have the Latin form. When this system 

 of naming was proposed, all scholars knew Latin. 

 It would be impossible for all scientific men to agree 

 upon German or English or French, or any other 

 living language. 



III. The name that is first given to an animal or 

 plant is the one by which it shall be known, if that 

 name is tenable. A name is not tenable if the same 

 name has been previously applied to some other 

 animal or plant. Usually, the name of the man 

 who first described the insect and gave it its name is 

 written after the name. This is called tlie Authority 

 and is often quite necessary to distinguish the insect. 



