460 SOME QUESTIONS OF NOMENCLATURE. 



start from the tenth edition of the Liumean "Systenia Natime," pub- 

 lished inl75S, in which the binomial nomenclature was first universally 

 applied, and those who advocate the twelfth edition of the " Systema," 

 published in 176G, the last wliich appeared during the life of Linnaeus. 

 But it may be premised here that even the fact that Linnaeus was the 

 first to devise the system of binomial nomenclature is not conceded by 

 all. It has been claimed that about two centuries before Linnaeus pub- 

 lished his "Philosophia Botanica," Belon had uniformly and consist- 

 ently applied the binomial nomenclature to plants as well as animals, 

 fishes, and birds. 1 It has been also urged that C. ~N. Lang (Langius), 2 

 in 1722, used the binomial nomenclature for shells. I have not been 



1 Crie (Louis). Pierre Belon et la nomenclature binaire. Rev. Sc, six, 737-740, 

 9 Dec, 1882. 



2 My efforts to see a copy of Lang's " Methodus novaTestacea marina in suas Classes, 

 Genera, et Species distribuendi" (Lucern., 1722) have not been successful. Maton 

 and Rackett say that "lie is the first whose generic characters are founded on com- 

 modious distinctions, hut expressly state that "there are no trivial names." (See 

 Trans. Linu. Soc, vii, 156, 157.) He may have properly appreciated genera. 



This note was the result of consideration of statements made by Dr. Raphael 

 Blancbard in bis excellent " Rapport presente au Congres International de Zoologie," 

 published in tbe ''Bulletin de la Societe" Zoologique de France pour l'annee 1889." 

 The statements were made therein (p. 262) that Tournefort bad originated the 

 binomial nomenclature (C'est a Tonrncfort que revient sans conteste la gloire 

 d'avoir fonde la nomenclature binaire) and that among others Lang had followed 

 him (L'example etait donn6: Lang et Klein appliquent cette nitfthode a la descrip- 

 tion dcs mollusques). It was also specifically stated (p. 264) that zoological nomen- 

 clature was initiated by Lang (la nomenclature zoologique ne commence reellenient 

 qu'en 1722, avec Lang). 



Since the publication of the address I have been able to examine Lang's work, 

 and do not find tbat the contention in tbe report cited is sustained. Lang divided 

 tbe marine shells among three parts (non-turbinate univalves, turbinate univalves, 

 and bivalves) ; each part (pars) is divided into classes, a class (classis) into sections, 

 and a section (sectio) into genera. One series will fairly illustrate all. 



Class 4 (Classis iv) is named " Strombi" and is divided into two sections : " Sectio 

 i. Strombi ore superius aperto" and "Sectio n. Strombi integri." The first section 

 is disintegrated into six genera : "Genus i. Strombi canaliculati acuminati," "Genus 

 II. Strombi canaliculati rostrati ore simplici," "Genus III. Strombi canaliculati ros- 

 trati ore anguloso," "Genus iv. Strombi canaliculati rostrati ore labioso," "Genus 

 v. Strombi sulcati vulgares," and "Genus vi. Strombi sulcati ore labioso." The 

 species are named accordingly, tbose of "Genus i" being designated as follows: 



"Strombus canaliculatus acuminatus laevis ore denticulato rel siriato. 



"Strombns canaliculatus acuminatus striatus. 



"Strombus canaliculatus acuminatus striatus §• f/ranulatus. 



"Strombus canaliculatus acuminatus striatus fy transversim per modum striarum 

 (j ii a si sni rat us." 

 And so on with the others 



The generic name in each case bere reproduced is indicated by roman type and 

 tbe specific by italics. Instead of an uninomial generic name tbere is a generic 

 term of three words in each case, and the specific name is of the nature of a 

 diagnosis. 



With these examples it must be evident that a different meaning has been attached 

 by Dr. Blanchard to binomial nomenclature (nomenclature binaire) from that enter- 

 tained liy the present writer, or that the learned author has based his statements on 

 erronepus information. 



